Robert Herb Photography Blog

AI-generated image demonstrating the underwater color loss due to depth Unlocking the Vibrancy of the Underwater World with Precision Adjustments One of the most exhilarating aspects of underwater photography is the opportunity to capture the stunning array of life and the breathtaking landscapes hidden beneath the ocean's surface. As we venture deeper into the water, however, a fascinating phenomenon occurs—the vibrant hues of reds and yellows gradually fade away, yielding a tranquil palette dominated by blues and greens. This color shift can make conveying the true beauty of what lies below is challenging. Creating custom color profiles in Adobe Lightroom—designed explicitly for varying depths—can be game-changing to combat this loss of vibrancy. By fine-tuning these profiles, you can effectively restore the vivid colors of your underwater shots, allowing the rich details and mesmerizing scenes to come alive in a way that genuinely reflects the enchanting underwater world. In thi...

Dolphins near the surface in Roatan. Copywrite Robert Herb Photography. The delicate dance between sunlight and the enchanting underwater realm creates breathtaking imagery but presents challenges. In the Caribbean's pristine, crystal-clear waters, the brilliance of intense sunlight can often saturate the scene, resulting in blown-out highlights. This phenomenon occurs as light cascades over vibrant coral reefs, glimmers of the playful movements of dolphins, and filters through swaying fields of emerald eelgrass. Thankfully, Adobe Lightroom has powerful tools to recover these lost highlights, allowing photographers to preserve their underwater shots' intricate details and dramatic beauty, ensuring that every nuance of color and light is beautifully captured. In this post, I will guide you through a comprehensive process for recovering highlight details using the latest tools available in Lightroom, including its advanced AI-powered features. Throughout the tutorial, I will in...

Black-and-white photography possesses a unique power that elevates underwater imagery into realms of timeless artistry, where contrast, texture, and mood dominate the visual narrative. The ocean's deep blues and vibrant hues are undeniably captivating, yet a new dimension emerges when you strip away color. This transformation allows the viewer to engage more deeply with the fundamental aspects of the image. Imagine the way sunlight filters through the water, creating a delicate interplay of light and shadow that dances across the ocean's surface and the subjects within it. In monochrome, these gentle gradients and stark contrasts become even more pronounced, drawing attention to the intricate shapes of marine life. Each ripple and swell can be captured in all its expressive glory, highlighting the fluidity of movement often lost amid a riot of color. Textures take on a new significance in black and white. The roughness of coral formations, the smooth gliding of fish, and the so...

This AI-generated image shows an example of how  DoF can be used to highlight the foreground and blur the background. In underwater photography, depth of field (DoF) is crucial for compositional effectiveness. It enables photographers to isolate subjects, like a reluctant seahorse amidst a vibrant seagrass backdrop, or to highlight the curious expression of a turtle in a colorful reef environment. However, achieving the desired DoF in-camera can present challenges due to movement, lighting variations, and water conditions, which often need to align favorably. Fortunately, post-processing techniques in Adobe Lightroom provide practical tools to enhance or even replicate the depth of field, allowing photographers to achieve a more professional and polished appearance in their images. This detailed guide provides insights on utilizing Lightroom's features to adjust the depth of field while preserving a natural underwater aesthetic. Each tool will be discussed in depth, including how...