Robert Herb Photography Blog

One of the questions I get asked all the time is why should I use Post-Processing tools like Adobe Lightroom Classic instead of post-processing tools that come with my Smartphone? It is hard to be specific since there are so many Smartphones and Point & Shoot camera applications. I see a lot of advantages and disadvantages to each but feel strongly that Professional Post-Processing Applications make the most sense if you are planning on capturing and preserving your memories and vacations for more than just social media sharing. Introduction As an underwater photography enthusiast, the journey doesn't end when you emerge from the depths. The real magic happens when you bring those vibrant underwater memories to the surface through post-processing. However, it's natural to have concerns about diving into the realm of photo editing. Fear not! In this guide, we'll address some common areas of concern and provide insights to help you confidently enhance your underwater snap...

Introduction: Beneath the ocean's surface lies an enchanting realm awaiting exploration through the lens of a camera. Among the various techniques available, underwater macro photography emerges as a captivating and rewarding option, especially for beginners. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the nuances of macro photography, exploring its distinctions from wide-angle approaches, the advantages of starting with macro, and how even budget-friendly cameras or smartphones can yield impressive results. Decoding the Depths of Macro Photography Underwater: Macro photography involves the intimate capture of small subjects, bringing to light intricate details often overlooked by the naked eye. Transcending onto the underwater canvas, this technique allows photographers to venture into the microcosm of marine life, unveiling the vibrant colors and unique textures of diminutive creatures such as nudibranchs, shrimp, and coral polyps. Divergence from Wide-Angle Photogr...

As a Professional Underwater Photographer working with new divers and photographers every week here in Roatan, Honduras, at Turquoise Divers, I get asked many questions. One that I would like to focus on this week, is for those photographers that are either not yet using post-processing or have just started using it. The thing with post-processing is that it can take almost any photograph and make it go from just OK to "Wow". Of course, the more time you spend using these tools the more you can make the photos "POP". Over the last 6+ years here as the Photography Pro at Turquoise Divers, I have now shot over 1 million (>1,000,000) underwater photos and imported them into Adobe Lightroom for processing. Now not all of them do I use or end up on my website, but I sure have learned a lot and have watched how post-processing has changed with all the new and improved tools. Just a little background on myself for clarification: I started my Underwater Photography journ...

In the next few blogs, I would like to dive into some features that are part of most cameras or part of the tools used in post-processing software such as Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop. What is a Histogram? A histogram is a graphical representation of the tonal distribution in an image. It displays the distribution of brightness levels, from shadows on the left to highlights on the right. The horizontal axis represents the tonal range (from dark to light), while the vertical axis indicates the frequency or the amount of pixels at each brightness level. What Does a Histogram Do? Exposure Evaluation : The histogram helps photographers assess the exposure of an image. Tonal Distribution: It shows a photograph's shadows, mid-tones, and highlights distribution. Highlight and Shadow Clipping: Histograms reveal if any areas are overexposed (highlight clipping) or underexposed (shadow clipping). Interpreting Histograms: 1. Properly Exposed Histogram: Appearance: The graph covers the e...