Robert Herb Photography Blog

Making Skin Tones Look Natural Underwater One of the most common frustrations for underwater photographers is encountering a situation where, upon reviewing their shots, they notice that their dive buddy's skin has taken on an unnatural hue, ranging from shades of blue to green or even purple. While it's true that fish and coral often respond well to global color adjustments, human skin tones in underwater photos require more targeted and intelligent corrections to appear natural and lifelike. The good news is that modern editing software has made this task much easier. Both Lightroom Classic (v14.5.1) and Lightroom (cloud-based v8.5.1) now come equipped with powerful AI-driven features, including AI-powered masks, Point Color, and luminance controls. These tools allow you to restore natural skin tones quickly, accurately, and with minimal fuss. Whether you prefer the comprehensive, desktop-based Lightroom Classic or the sleek, cloud-based Lightroom, the tools are nearly ident...

Underwater photography is undeniably one of the most challenging genres in all of photography. The unique environment, dominated by blue hues, swift changes in lighting, and the natural flatness of underwater light, often leaves your stunning reefscapes, intricate wreck interiors, and dramatic silhouette shots appearing dull and lackluster. I've been there myself; capturing the vibrant, dynamic world beneath the waves can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.   The good news is that you don't necessarily need expensive new equipment like advanced strobes or high-end lenses to make a significant improvement. Often, the most effective, yet underutilized tool is right at your fingertips, within Adobe Lightroom Classic (v14.4) and Lightroom Mobile (v9.4). Specifically, the Tone Curve Panel offers powerful adjustments that can breathe new life into your underwater images.   In this guide, I'll share insightful tips on how simple curve adjustments can dramatically elevate your ph...

An AI-generated image that best represents this blog post . 🌊 Explore more tips at: info.robertherb.com/lm-2-blog Have you ever come up for air after a dive and eagerly reviewed your underwater photos, only to find yourself thinking, "This shot had so much potential… if only I could manage the highlights or enhance the shadows"? If this resonates with you, you're certainly not in this alone. Underwater photography encompasses its own unique set of challenges, particularly when it comes to Exposure. Photographers often grapple with issues such as glaring sunbeams that wash out details and shadowy reef crevices that appear almost entirely black in images. Fortunately, with the recent updates to Adobe Lightroom, specifically versions Classic 14.2 and Mobile, AI Masks are game-changing tools designed to tackle these common exposure dilemmas. These innovative features allow us to make adjustments with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. In the following post, I'll share m...