Robert Herb Photography Blog

An AI-generated image that best represents this post. An Updated Post for 2025 Using Lightroom Classic versions 14.1 & 14.2 ( Original post published December 25, 2024). Bringing Back the Color the Ocean Took Away—One Depth at a Time You're not alone if you've ever gone through your dive photos and thought, “Where did all the vibrant colors go?”. As underwater photographers, we share this common concern. We constantly strive to bring back the stunning vibrancy and dramatic hues that the ocean seems to keep hidden from our cameras. The deeper we dive, the more we notice that reds, oranges, and yellows seem to disappear, leaving us with murky greens and dull, lifeless blues that hardly capture the true beauty of our underwater adventures. In my original post from December 2024, I talked about how using custom color profiles could significantly alleviate these color issues using precise editing techniques. However, there’s exciting news! Lightroom has come a long way since...

  An AI-generated image that best represents this blog posting. Creating a strong sense of depth in underwater photography is notoriously tricky and presents unique challenges for photographers. Whether diving in the clear, vibrant waters of Roatan, rich with marine life, or exploring a mysterious shipwreck in the South Pacific, you may find that everything looks flat and two-dimensional. This loss of depth perception is a common issue, as the magical blur that typically separates a subject from its background—something we often achieve topside with fast lenses—simply doesn't happen as readily below the surface.    In underwater photography, achieving the breathtaking depth of field that brings the subject to life can require careful planning and specific equipment. The hues of the ocean can further complicate this, often washing out colors and detail, leading to a lack of contrast. However, advancements in technology have introduced innovative solutions to overcome thes...

  A Photo-Realistic AI-generated image that best represents the content of this blog post. A guide to developing a unique, recognizable editing style using Lightroom’s latest tools. Creating a Signature Editing Style for Your Underwater Photography Brand How to Stand Out in a Sea of Blue Using Lightroom’s Latest Tools When you scroll through your social media feeds, do you instantly recognize a photographer’s work even before seeing their name? This phenomenon is a testament to the remarkable power of a signature editing style. For underwater photographers, cultivating a distinctive visual identity goes beyond mere artistic expression. It is essential for making their images stand out in an ever-crowded digital landscape. A well-defined style helps reinforce your brand and plays a crucial role in transforming casual viewers into dedicated followers. This journey of establishing a unique editing style can engage your audience on a deeper level, allowing them to feel an em...

  An AI-generated photo-realistic image that visually represents the new AI masking tools in action New Masking Features in Lightroom That Help Your Marine Subjects Shine For decades, isolating subjects in underwater photography was a labor-intensive process that demanded meticulous brushwork, manual luminance masks, and abundant patience. Photographers had to invest significant time and effort to achieve the desired results, often resulting in frustration and lengthy editing sessions. However, this once cumbersome task has been revolutionized with the advent of Lightroom Classic. The introduction of advanced AI-powered masking tools has transformed the workflow, empowering photographers to effortlessly select divers, marine life, backgrounds, and entire reef scenes with just a single click. This innovative technology saves time and enhances the creative possibilities, allowing users to focus on their artistic vision rather than the technical challenges of editing underwater ima...