Creating a Signature Editing Style for Underwater Photography with AI in Lightroom
This AI-generated side-by-side image
comparison showcases the "Vivid and Vibrant."
style next to the "Monochrome Masterpiece" style.
Developing a consistent editing style in underwater photography makes your photos look appealing and helps build a recognizable brand. Adobe Lightroom’s AI tools make creating and refining a signature style more accessible than ever, allowing you to apply your unique look quickly and consistently across your portfolio. With features like Adaptive Presets, AI masking, and Content-Aware tools, Lightroom enables precise control over every aspect of your image.
Why a Signature Style Matters in Underwater Photography
Creating a signature style gives your work a unique voice in
a crowded visual space. When viewers see your photos, they’ll be able to
recognize your style and connect with the narrative you’re building. Whether aiming for vivid colors, a dramatic aesthetic, or a peaceful atmosphere,
having a consistent look can make a big difference. AI tools in Lightroom
simplify the process, enabling you to achieve these effects precisely and quickly.
Here are five signature editing styles that can
be achieved and refined with Lightroom’s AI tools. Each offers a distinct way
to showcase the underwater world.
Signature Style 1: “Vivid and Vibrant” – Amplify Colors
with AI
If your goal is to make tropical reefs and marine life pop
with color, a vivid editing style can help bring out the natural beauty of
shallow-water environments. This style makes colors bold and lively, ideal for
shots with plenty of light.
How to Create It in Lightroom with AI:
- Use
Adaptive Presets for Vibrancy: Begin with Lightroom’s AI Adaptive
Preset, such as “Vivid” or “High Saturation,” which provides a solid base
of enhanced color across all areas.
- AI-Driven
Color Grading: Apply AI masking to separate the subject from the
background, boosting saturation and warmth in specific areas. Focus on
reds and yellows that often fade underwater.
- Enhance
Clarity with AI Masking: Use AI to isolate coral or marine life to boost clarity and texture, ensuring details stand out against the water
background.
- Fine-Tune
Colors with HSL Panel: Use the HSL panel to increase saturation on
blues and aquas for a balanced, vivid look.
- AI-Enhanced
Tone Curve for Contrast: Let AI suggest the best tone curve for
contrast, adding depth without losing essential details.
With AI, achieving a “Vivid and Vibrant” style becomes
straightforward, giving your images an energetic feel that brings viewers into the scene.
Signature Style 2: “Deep and Dramatic” – Adding Depth and
Shadows with AI
For those who prefer a moody, mysterious vibe, the “Deep and
Dramatic” style enhances shadows and plays with contrast to create a cinematic
feel. This is ideal for deep water shots, wrecks, and larger marine animals
like sharks.
How to Create It in Lightroom with AI:
- AI-Powered
Background Masking: Use the AI Background Mask to darken the water
around your subject. Lowering the exposure in the background adds a sense
of depth and mystery.
- Selective
Adjustment with AI Shadows: AI can target shadow areas to lower blacks
in specific zones, adding depth without losing definition.
- Apply
the ‘Matte’ Adaptive Preset: This preset adds a matte finish to soften
highlights and gives a filmic look, perfect for a dramatic effect.
- Use
AI-Aware Vignetting: AI-powered vignetting automatically centers on
the main subject, helping focus attention where you want it.
- Add
Split Toning for Atmosphere: Use subtle blue tones in the shadows and
warmer tones in highlights to create an underwater cinematic experience.
With AI, the “Deep and Dramatic” style is more straightforward to refine,
creating a visually impactful look ideal for showcasing the awe-inspiring depth
of the ocean.
Signature Style 3: “Soft and Dreamy” – Achieving a
Calming Glow with AI
If you’re drawn to the tranquility of shallow reefs and
gentle marine life, the “Soft and Dreamy” style provides a peaceful, diffused
look. This style uses AI to create a warm, glowy feel.
How to Create It in Lightroom with AI:
- Start
with the “Soft” Adaptive Preset: This preset lowers contrast and
raises exposure for a gentle effect.
- Use
AI-Driven Edge Masking to Soften: With AI masking, blur the outer
edges of your frame to reduce clarity and focus the viewer’s attention on
the central subject.
- Add
Warmth Using AI Temperature Adjustment: Apply a warm temperature to
sunlit areas, replicating natural sunlight in shallow waters.
- Light
Split Toning: Add yellow to the highlights and subtle blue in the
shadows for a balanced glow.
- AI-Based
Dehaze for Gentle Clarity: Apply a mild dehaze to specific elements
like coral or fish to keep them clear without sacrificing the soft look of
the surroundings.
The “Soft and Dreamy” style is ideal for conveying the peaceful side of underwater photography. With AI, you can effortlessly achieve this look, preserving the calm beauty of your scene.
Signature Style 4: “Monochrome Masterpiece” – Black and
White Underwater Photography with AI Precision
A monochrome style brings an entirely new perspective to
underwater photography. It strips away color to focus on shapes, textures, and contrasts. This technique is perfect for creating timeless, impactful images.
How to Create It in Lightroom with AI:
- Convert
to Black and White Using Adaptive Presets: Start with the “Black and
White” Adaptive Preset, which provides a balanced grayscale base.
- Apply
AI Masking to Adjust Light and Shadow: AI can quickly separate the
subject and background, allowing you to increase the subject's exposure while keeping shadows rich and dark.
- Adjust
Contrast with AI Suggestions: Use AI-powered contrast adjustments to
balance light and dark areas.
- Enhance
Texture Using AI Clarity: Apply clarity selectively to specific
elements, like coral or a fish’s scales, adding visual interest without
overprocessing.
- Add
a Vignette with AI-Aware Tools: Focus the vignette on the subject to
create a natural frame, emphasizing the central subject.
The “Monochrome Masterpiece” style, enhanced with AI tools,
lets you focus on the textures and forms that make underwater photography
unique, adding a sense of timelessness to your work.
Signature Style 5: “Blue Tones and Cool Hues” – Creating
a Mystical Ocean Vibe with AI
If you want your photos to reflect the deep blues and cool ocean hues, this style emphasizes blue and green tones for a mystical,
calming effect. It’s perfect for open-water shots and reef scenes.
How to Create It in Lightroom with AI:
- Use
the “Cool” Adaptive Preset: This preset enhances blues and greens,
setting the tone for a chilled, oceanic feel.
- AI-Driven
Color Masking: Isolate blue and green hues using AI to emphasize them
in the photo while muting warmer tones, creating a cohesive, calming
palette.
- Add Depth with AI Shadow Masks: Use AI to selectively add shadows to areas needing depth, making blues richer.
- Experiment
with AI-Based Split Toning: Apply blue tones to shadows and incredible teal
in highlights for a more uniform, mystical appearance.
- Refine
Texture and Clarity with AI Clarity Mask: AI can identify areas with
high texture, like coral, and apply selective clarity, making them stand
out against the smooth blue water.
The “Blue Tones and Cool Hues” style immerses viewers in the
calming, mysterious side of the ocean. With AI, you can perfect this look
efficiently, ensuring your underwater scenes are as tranquil and
captivating as natural.
Making AI Work for Your Signature Style
With today’s AI tools in Lightroom, creating a signature
editing style is faster, more accurate, and more consistent. You can easily replicate your unique look by saving your AI-enhanced settings as custom presets. Your style is part of your visual identity as an underwater photographer,
helping viewers instantly recognize your work.
Whether you’re going for bold vibrancy, deep shadows, dreamy calmness, timeless monochrome, or cool ocean vibes, AI in Lightroom empowers you to let your vision shine dive after dive.
The above blog post showcases how AI tools can achieve each style, providing a comprehensive approach to building a unique and recognizable look in underwater photography. Do you have a signature style? I want to know what it is and how you use it in your photographs. Please post a comment below.
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Sincerely,
Bob Herb
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