Photography Tutorial · 2018-12-12
Landscape Photography Post-Processing Color Grading and Rendering Series Course Is Here!
Thomas Chu Photo
Hello, I'm Miller (Yao Minglai), a member of AdventureX AX (极影AX).
After shooting landscapes for so many years and writing many tutorials, I still get asked by many people:
Why do your photos look so rich and glossy?
Is there a workflow and steps for color grading?
How do you retouch to achieve a feel like oil painting?
Words and language can clearly explain various compositing techniques, but they cannot describe the skills and thinking behind color grading. Because color and tonality are a matter of style and aesthetics — a far more complex and abstract concept.
So this time I've recorded a 6-lesson video course, and these 6 lessons revolve around just one theme — color grading and atmosphere building in landscape post-processing.
The 6 lessons progress from basic to advanced, covering fundamental color grading techniques, transitions of light and feel, atmosphere building, toning and rendering, and more. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced enthusiast, you can get started quickly and gain inspiration.
The course has a discussion group where Yao Minglai and Thomas will answer everyone's questions promptly. In each lesson, the teacher provides downloadable practice files so you can get hands-on. Teacher Yao Minglai will comment in the group and pick typical assignments for detailed review in the course videos.
The first video lesson (a free public class) will begin at 8 PM on Thursday, December 20, with one lesson added every Thursday evening thereafter.
Each lesson includes one hour of teaching and 15 minutes of Q&A. The course is saved permanently, can be rewatched unlimited times, and provides original image files for practice.
The course is on a limited-time special price of 288 yuan. Scan the QR code below to sign up!
After signing up, screenshot the successful payment page and add Teacher Yao Minglai's WeChat: fakeyao,
or the group admin's WeChat: thomaskksj2, to join the group!
Lesson 1: Color Contrast and Enhancement (Free Public Class)
This lesson uses a photo taken in Guilin as an example to explain techniques related to post-processing stitching and color rendering. Lesson 1 is a free public class — everyone can watch and listen on Qianliao (but cannot join the discussion group).
Lesson 2: Complete Guide to Post-Processing Color Grading Techniques
This lesson explains the most important color grading ideas and techniques for the grand-scene landscape photos popular in Europe and America.
. D&B (Dodging and Burning)
. Lightbleeding (light rendering)
. Post-processing coloring techniques
. Color aesthetics
. Atmosphere building
. Common color grading techniques
Lesson 3: Magical Dark-Tone Post-Processing
Magical dark tones are a popular color grading style on social sites. This lesson covers the key grading and post-processing points, along with related tools and techniques.
. Enhancing color depth
. How to be dark without being black
. Creating a hazy feel
. Transitions of light and feel
. Conflict and contrast
Lesson 4: Texture and Tonality
What makes landscape photography stunning isn't only color. Tonality and texture are also key to a photo. This lesson uses the case below to share the relevant points.
Lesson 5: From Start to Finish — Compositing and Color Grading (Part 1)
This lesson walks through the complete post-processing of a photo, reviewing the ideas and techniques covered earlier, plus the knowledge points below.
. Lightroom basic processing
. Masking techniques
. Focus stacking
. Time compositing
. Image recomposition
Lesson 6: From Start to Finish — Compositing to Color Grading (Part 2)
This lesson continues with the case from the previous lesson, plus two night photos, reviewing the ideas and techniques covered earlier, along with the knowledge points below.
. Detailed color grading workflow
. Color control
. Image output and storage
. Processing starry night scenes
The first video lesson (a free public class) will go live at 8 PM on Thursday, December 20, with one lesson added every Thursday evening thereafter. All course content can be rewatched unlimited times, original image files are provided for practice, and you can have in-depth exchanges with Teacher Yao Minglai on WeChat.