Photo How To

Experienced Lightroom users understand why dodging and burning is an "essential" technique that enables them to control light and shadow for perfectly balanced tones through a scene. The standard approach typically works pretty well, but this tutorial reveals a unique trick that delivers absolute precision every time.

Instructor Scott Davenport is a notable landscape pro who posts weekly shooting and editing lessons for photographers of all skills. This powerful episode reveals how to employ Luminance Range masks, intersected with a brush, to enhance the dodge-and-burn process for a seamless natural-looking result.

Davenport describes the process like this "By leveraging the Luminance Range mask, users can target specific brightness values in an image to ensure that the dodge-and-burn effects are only applied to the specific tonal areas that you target." He also demonstrates how intersecting the mask with a brush further refines a selection.

Put another way, "this ability to brighten or darken an image selectively without affecting surrounding tones will improve the story and strength of a photo so that you get professional-grade results with minimal effort." And despite the power of this technique, it takes barely six minute to demonstrate how well works.

Davenport begins with a brief overview of the standard way to dodge and burn photos for those unfamiliar with this important concept, and he explains why the method has always been a staple of his post-processing workflow. The sample b&w demonstration shot was captured in the Valley of Fire National Park where stunning arches are easy to find.

The unique Luminance masking trick also works wonders with color imagery and you'll learn why this quick extra step actually accelerates the process when working on complex scenes that would otherwise require very time-consuming adjustments that Davenport says, "I'm not willing to do."

Davenport walks you through the step-by step process for creating and refining a Luminance Range mask, intersecting with a brush, and making adjustments with Lightroom's simple Exposure slider.  There are a few final enhancements that also factor into his impressive transformation.

Davenport's popular YouTube channel is a great source of instructional videos, especially for landscape and seascape shooters, so be sure to pay a visit and explore.

We also recommend watching the tutorial we featured last week with another expert shooter who demonstrates five pro landscape photography composition techniques that cut through the clutter of complicated scenes and direct a viewer's attention through an image.