Robert Herb Photography Blog

Underwater photography is truly a magical yet challenging art. When you're capturing those unforgettable moments beneath the surface, you might find that your shots aren't always as perfect as you envision. Sometimes, curious divers drift unexpectedly into your frame, or bubbles rise unexpectedly from regulators, and reflections off your dome port can add to the visual chaos. These little distractions can make your beautiful underwater scenes look cluttered or less polished than you'd like. But don't worry, there's good news! Today's powerful editing tools in Lightroom offer us two fantastic options to help clean up these distractions and bring out the best in your photos.   First, we have the classic Healing and Cloning Brush. This tried-and-true tool has been a photographer's companion for years, allowing you to carefully paint over unwanted spots, distractions, or imperfections, blending them seamlessly into the surrounding area. It's like giving your...

Blue water often serves as the stunning backdrop for many of our underwater photographs. Whether you're capturing sweeping reefscapes, schools of fish swimming mid-water, or a lone diver set against a beautiful gradient of cobalt, this backdrop plays a crucial role in conveying the breathtaking beauty of the underwater world. However, achieving that vibrant, lively blue in post-processing can be challenging. Without careful editing, your blue water might appear flat, dull, or lifeless, which diminishes the overall impact of your images and fails to convey the magic and vitality you experienced during your dive.   Over the past year, I've delved into how modern tools, particularly AI-powered masking techniques, can significantly enhance blue water photography. These advances have made it easier than ever to isolate the water from other elements in your shot, allowing for precise adjustments that bring out the actual color and depth, while preserving the integrity of your main s...

As an underwater photographer, there's nothing more frustrating than capturing the perfect shot—you're happy with your composition, the marine life is beautifully framed, and the colors look vibrant. Then you notice unwanted white dots scattered across your image. These are backscatter , and they happen when tiny particles suspended in the water reflect your camera's light source, creating those distracting spots that can ruin an otherwise stunning photo. Whether you're using a professional DSLR with a strobe or a compact camera inside an affordable housing, backscatter can be a persistent challenge. It's a common issue faced by many underwater photographers. Still, the good news is that Lightroom Classic (v14.5) , Lightroom (cloud-based) v8.5 , Lightroom Mobile (v9.5) , and Adobe Camera Raw (v17.5) now include powerful AI-assisted and manual tools designed to help you remove backscatter quickly and accurately, on desktop or mobile. Recent updates bring faster...

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...