Robert Herb Photography Blog

An AI-generated image that best represents the content of this blog post. With the recent advancements made in Adobe Lightroom, I needed to update my previous blog post on this subject and align it with the new tips, tricks, and tools available. Underwater photographers are acutely aware that the ocean is a dynamic environment that transforms not only with the ebb and flow of the tides but also significantly with varying depths. At a mere 10 feet underwater, a photo might appear vibrant and color-balanced. Yet, as you descend to 60 feet, these colors can shift dramatically, taking on green, gray, or blue hues due to changes in the water's optical properties. The once vivid reds and yellows stand out in shallower waters and can quickly fade away, often disappearing almost instantaneously - faster than one can utter "neutral buoyancy.” To address these challenges and empower photographers, this updated guide provides an in-depth look at leveraging Adobe Lightroom Classic’s adv...

An AI-generated image that best represents the content of this blog post. Underwater Water Color Correction: Fixing Green and Murky Hues in Lightroom Weekly Tips & Tricks for Underwater Photography  Green. Murky. Milky. We’ve all been there. Even when utilizing the highest-quality strobes and the most meticulously adjusted white balance settings, there are still certain dives where the water's color can transform your underwater photos into images that resemble something out of a murky swamp rather than capturing the vibrant and lively essence of a colorful coral reef. This phenomenon can occur for various reasons, including algae blooms that cloud the water, poor visibility due to sediment or particles, or the effects of deep ambient light filtering through the surface. However, the good news is that with the powerful editing capabilities of Lightroom, it’s possible to correct those unnatural water hues. By applying the proper adjustments, a shot that might initially seem...

An AI-generated image that best represents this blog post. This is an update to a previous Blog post titled "Combining Lightroom and Photoshop for Ultimate Underwater Photo Edits," posted on October 24, 2024. With all the recent advancements/updates within Lightroom, it was necessary to post this new blog. Backscatter -  the considerable nemesis of every underwater photographer. These pesky, floating particles not only disrupt the clarity of your images but also catch your strobe or video light, resulting in distracting little white spots peppered across your otherwise perfect composition. If you have spent any time shooting underwater, you are undoubtedly familiar with this frustrating phenomenon. Many photographers have experienced the urge to curse it as it ruins carefully captured moments.    Fortunately, there is a silver lining in the digital photography age. Thanks to Adobe Lightroom’s latest AI-powered tools, you can now address backscatter issues more eff...

An AI-generated image that best defines the content of this blog post. As underwater photographers, we are fortunate to dive into some of Earth's most awe-inspiring and challenging settings. Every dive invites us into an adventure filled with the potential for new discoveries, showcasing vibrant marine creatures and stunning underwater landscapes that our cameras are eager to capture. However, we must recognize that after the dive and our careful rinsing to remove the saltwater, the journey of each photo has only just begun. In reality, it’s during the post-dive editing stage that the real artistry unfolds. This vital step encompasses more than just tweaking colors or cropping pictures; it’s a captivating craft in its own right. Through editing, we revive our images, enhancing colors, sharpening delicate details, and honestly expressing the atmosphere of our underwater experiences. Each adjustment tells a part of the unique narrative of our adventures beneath the surface, transfo...