Six simple steps to recover the golden hour atmosphere of your images! Find @lukelucis_’s editing tips below and scroll to see his workflow step by step! 🎨 #ColorProWithMe “I took the first photo in this series as the ferry crossed the water, capturing a quiet moment in the middle of New York’s hustle. The original RAW image, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 and XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens, had plain colors with soft steel blue, muted tan, and warm greys. To bring out a warmer, golden hour feel and make the scene more cinematic, I followed these steps. I hope they help you! Step 1) Basic adjustments Highlights -100 Shadows +10 Whites +31 Blacks -30 Step 2) Curve I used a gentle S-curve to lift the highlights and brighten the midtones while slightly deepening the shadows. This added warm contrast and gave the image a cinematic feel, perfect for bringing life to a flat or overcast shot. Step 3) Colors Temperature 4.500 Tint +8 Vibrance +22 Saturation -20 Step 4) Color grading Midtones (c69346): Medium amber shade Shadows (2642c0): Vibrant royal blue Highlights (c08e43): Warm golden brown Blending (100) Step 5) Color calibration Red primary Hue +20 Saturation +20 Blue primary Hue - 50 Saturation -50 Step 6) Effects Texture +10 Clarity -20 Dehaze +6 Vignette -32 Midpoint 50 Feather 50 Highlights 0 Grain 35 Size 45 Roughness 32 Edited color palette Warm burnt orange (d7894b) Deep teal (35616c) Warm amber (f2b16d) Charcoal grey (4b4b4b) Golden Beige (d9a57b) I chose this palette because it creates a strong balance between harmony and contrast, combining warm, analogous tones with a complementary deep teal that adds a refreshing pop. The neutral charcoal grey helps ground the colors, giving the overall look depth and stability. From what I understand about color theory and research, this mix not only feels emotionally warm and inviting but also keeps the image visually engaging and well-balanced.” @colorpro: Thanks for following @lukelucis_’s breakdown! What do you think of his fantastic palette? 🎨 Share your thoughts below!

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A vibrant Nordic palette with jade greens, deep teals, and misty mountain blues to evoke the fresh, alive feeling of Norway’s summer valleys! With @viktor.asztalos.photography / Our brain is especially tuned to greens and blues. When we look at things, the brain doesn’t process every color equally. Studies suggest it pays more attention to light in the green and blue parts of the spectrum. This is likely because recognizing water and vegetation was vital for our ancestors (Bevil Conway, 2014). Exposure to green is linked to lower heart rates, reduced anxiety, and greater well-being. Blue evokes peace and security, associated with clear skies and clean water—feelings reflected in the first image’s dominant hues, according to color theory. In the first image, the luminous turquoise river (64c7c2) winds like a jewel through fields of lush emerald (4a8b34). Editing these tones involves cooling the temperature, boosting green and aqua saturation, and muting yellows to keep greens crisp. Mist-gray blues (7d8ca3) cloak the distant mountains, adding depth and an ethereal haze. This effect is achieved by cooling shadows, lifting blue luminance, and softly reducing clarity in the background. Grounding the scene are forest greens (2d4c23) and stormy slate (555d6d), providing contrast and balance to the brighter mids and highlights. Together, they tell a color story that is alive and peaceful, capturing the essence of Nordic summer light. Here’s the color breakdown: 64c7c2 (river turquoise) – 31.7% 4a8b34 (emerald green) – 26.4% 7d8ca3 (misty blue-gray) – 21.1% 2d4c23 (deep forest green) – 12.5% 555d6d (stormy slate) – 8.3% Each tone complements the next, creating a palette that feels strong without being oversaturated, making it perfect for your landscape edits. This is supported by research from Wichmann et al. (2002), which found that people remember images with moderate saturation in greens and blues up to 20% better than oversaturated images, as these colors feel more “natural” and hold viewers’ attention longer. @nomadict: How do you shape the feeling of openness and freshness through color in your landscapes?

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Capturing moody ocean photography! With @seb.picaud - Winner Best of the Week 37 2024 at #nomadict / “As a graphic designer in the surfwear industry, I first developed a taste for travel well before photography. Photography came late. After returning from trips, I was so frustrated by the weakness of my images that I began to invest myself more seriously in this field. Then, during the lockdown, I became increasingly involved in surf and wave photography. As I lived near the beach, I could escape discreetly and practice photographing waves at sunrise, devoid of any surfers. I practice surf photography almost exclusively, being in the south of France, along the Aquitaine coast, in Hossegor; I am lucky enough to photograph some of the most beautiful waves in Europe. I love the ocean and am fascinated by the shape of beautiful waves and the strength of the biggest ones. I think first of my composition because I always shoot moving elements, so I have to anticipate where the wave or the surfer should appear in the design. Then, when I go to the edit, all my work focuses on where and how I will bring out the light. Composition, shadow, and light are my vital steps. I learn lessons from my mistakes daily by photographing a natural element that varies. I have to understand the weather forecasts, the swell periods, and the wind directions and remember them for each spot because, over a perimeter of a few kilometers, it can be very different. I shoot very quickly, very often at sunrise, because that’s when the light is the most interesting for me. I’m usually wrong because even forecasts are not an exact science, especially with sandbank waves. Still, the show is amazing when it works, and the shots can be fantastic. The photo that won Best of the Week at #nomadict is the perfect example of what I was saying just before - see pic. 3. There were only three people in the water, and I knew I only had 10 or 15 minutes with this very low light to shoot. It was two years ago on a November morning, and I have never found such a beautiful wave with similar light.” 🌊

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Show us your stunning Milky Way photography! Join us and @benjaminbarakat in the new #PeaktoContest to win fantastic prizes from @cyme.io! Follow the instructions (link in bio), use Peakto for free to easily find your favorite night sky shots or hidden gems, and enter the contest by sharing a series that inspires you - we can’t wait to see your first entries! 📸 And check out @benjaminbarakat’s tips for stunning Milky Way photography below! ⬇️ “To capture the beauty of the Milky Way, it’s helpful to consider the orientation of the galaxy to your location and latitude, to start with: 1) In the southern hemisphere, the Milky Way looks upside down - use each hemisphere’s unique view to capture standout shots! 2) Light pollution is a big challenge, so I head to remote, dark-sky areas for the best Milky Way shots! 3) Thus, my creative approach begins with identifying the desired location and composition. Then, I proceed to check the weather and the phase of the moon. I look for clear skies with no visible moon. 4) Afterward, I check my equipment is ready and that I have the appropriate clothing for the location. With proper planning and preparation, my trips typically run smoothly and according to plan. 5) For stunning Milky Way shots, use a fast lens with excellent optics and minimal coma or aberrations at the edges. I’ve shared my favorite lenses in the original article—check it out for detailed recommendations! 6) In post-production, I typically set the white balance and turn off profile corrections in Lightroom. Depending on the desired outcome, I stack multiple images of the same composition and camera settings to minimize noise or load the single image directly into Photoshop. 7) Working with layers, I adjust the curves, hue, and saturation to enhance the image. I often use masks to differentiate between the foreground and sky, allowing me to make separate adjustments. This step helps increase the shadow detail in the foreground while adding more contrast and color to the Milky Way in the sky.” 🌌

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Two analogous color palettes with low-contrast and desaturated greens to keep developing your editing style! With @michaelkagerer / Studies on color psychology and preference surveys show that green is one of the most popular colors, particularly in Europe and North America. Green is a unique color in the way it affects human perception. It sits at the center of the visible spectrum, making it the easiest color for our eyes to process—which is why it’s associated with relaxation and balance. Because green is everywhere in nature, it instantly evokes a sense of peace, renewal, and vitality. Additionally, studies show that green spaces help reduce stress, so hospitals, offices, and homes often incorporate green tones to create a calming atmosphere. However, not all greens evoke the same emotions—some shades are associated with negative connotations, such as illness, envy, or decay. So, how do you choose or edit the right greens to enhance the mood of your photography? The right green depends on your story, subject, and artistic vision. Muted or earthy greens create a calm, nostalgic feel, while vibrant greens evoke energy or futurism. 1) For instance, the palette in the first image emphasizes subtlety and depth, making it perfect for crafting a mysterious, moody, and cinematic ambiance: Deep forest green: 0e1a19 Dark moss green: 1c2820 Muted olive green: 313e2d Soft woodland green: 49573c Dusty sage green: 707c60 According to color theory, this palette conveys tranquility and resilience, making it perfect for wilderness photography and muted cinematic color grading. 2) Looking now to another example, image eight has more warmth and earthy tones: Deep charcoal green: 101817 Dark olive green: 242e20 Muted forest green: 495242 Earthy olive-toned green: 424c29 Dusty sage green: 7e8164 As a result, this palette feels calm, organic, and grounding. Both palettes are excellent for storytelling, but the first leans more cinematic and dramatic, while the second has a softer, more nostalgic charm. Which of these stunning palettes by @michaelkagerer do you prefer? 🎨

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Analogous and monochromatic color palettes to keep improving your photography style! With @amiralibmnd - Winner Best of the Week 5 at #nomadict 2024 / “Generally, I aim to maintain consistency in my color tones across different images, often going for hues dominant during the blue hour, such as soft blue and pastel tones, or soft bright tones resulting from light interacting with atmospheric textures like fog, haze, or dust. So, I often hunt for those kinds of conditions when I’m out shooting, and in this series, you can find some examples of how I use color theory in my photography: 1) Image two - analogous color palette Overall, this color palette combines earthy, neutral tones with cooler shades of gray and blue, creating a balanced and harmonious aesthetic. These colors are adjacent to each other on the color wheel (analogous): 3D3631 (Dark Taupe) is a dark, earthy shade of brown. 111010 (Jet Black) is a deep, rich black color that adds contrast and intensity to the palette and anchors the other colors. 96AABD (Cool Gray) is a cool, muted shade of gray with hints of blue. E2EBF3 (Light blue-gray) is a soft, light blue-gray tone. FEFEFF (Off-White) is an off-white or very light cream color. It brings brightness and purity to the palette. 2) Image four - Monochromatic color palette In this palette, all the dominant colors are variations of blue and gray, ranging from steel blue to light steel blue, cool gray, light gray, and white. Despite variations in lightness and saturation, they all stem from the same base hue, creating a cohesive and harmonious aesthetic: 838F9A (Steel Blue) is a muted blue-gray shade resembling steel. A1B1BE (Cool Gray) is a cool, light gray with subtle blue undertones. C3CCD4 (Light Steel Blue) is a soft, light blue-gray tone. E2E5E7 (Light Gray) is a very light, neutral gray. It brings brightness and purity to the palette, creating a sense of lightness and airiness. FDFDFD (White) is pure white. It adds brightness and cleanliness to the palette, enhancing its clarity and simplicity.” @nomadict: Tell us! What do you think about these beautiful color palettes by @amiralibmnd? 🎨

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Three monochromatic and analogous color palettes that use warm oranges, rich browns, and deep neutrals to evoke a timeless atmosphere in your travel images! With @melzagers / For @melzagers, every scene he captures tells a story shaped by the same peaks and valleys that first sparked his love for landscape photography. In these moments from Portugal, you can feel Mel’s unique eye at work, blending dramatic light, expansive sands, and the deep embrace of shadows. Through monochromatic and analogous earthy tones, this series brings together warm beiges, rich browns, and deep neutrals to evoke a timeless atmosphere, echoing Mel’s approach of maintaining a consistent palette, often built around shades of orange, blue, or green, with balanced contrast and black levels throughout. Below, we break down three palettes in this series so you can find inspiration to refine your editing style with similar tones: 1) Image one blends deep neutrals and warm earth tones. The dark charcoal-like tones of the towering rocks (332d27 and 0f0f10) add contrast, while the soft sand (d0b498) and the sun-kissed muted caramel of the reflections (a38466) bring warmth. The earthy taupe (332d27) and walnut (695240) in the rock formations reinforce depth, reminiscent of aged maritime journals. 2) Similarly, image ten features sunlit beiges and rich browns. The soft ivory of the sky (dfcaaf) and warm sandstone tones of the distant cliffs (c4aa91) form an inviting base, while the cinnamon hue of the reflected light on the water (a37b59) adds depth. The deep amber glow from the sun (35231f) and chestnut tones of the wet sand (6c4935) provide a nostalgic, film-like quality. 3) Lastly, image eleven features deep browns and rich, dark hues. The brown-black (0D0805) and dark reddish brown (110907) of the shadows provide depth, while the chocolate brown of the sunlit sand (120A07) adds warmth. In addition, the dark coffee (0C0704) and espresso brown (100806) in the deepest shadows complete the palette with a grounding feel. This palette adds more contrast and mystery, creating a cinematic noir effect. You can read the full interview with @melzagers by visiting the link in our bio!

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Seven essential tips to photograph and color-grade your street photographs! With @ashrafularefin / “To start with, finding the ideal subject matter is crucial, although it can be challenging because not all subjects convey emotion and beauty: 1) So, I look for subjects with expressive faces and focus on people’s eyes, as they are often called the windows to the soul. 2) Both planned and unplanned photo walks can work. When I find an interesting subject without the proper emotion or lighting, I return later. On the other hand, if I see genuine emotions, I capture my subject by positioning my camera in line with their eyes without worrying about any other conditions. 3) Establishing a genuine emotional connection with my subject is essential for capturing emotion and beauty authentically. This step requires empathy, patience, and the ability to create a comfortable and trusting environment for my subjects as a photographer. In this sense, a telephoto lens comes in handy. 4) Furthermore, lighting and storytelling are essential for creating dreamy photographs. I aim to capture characters, scenes, or narratives that draw viewers into a magical world of mystery and enchantment. Thus, I typically shoot during early mornings or late afternoons when the light is softer. 5) I often use a narrow depth of field to achieve a soft, dreamy background. The combination of glowing light and a narrow depth of field works wonders. 6) Finally, I use post-processing techniques to enhance the dreamy atmosphere. I believe that light is the soul of a photo, and color is its heart. Color can evoke different emotions, so I use it purposefully. Warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows can make people feel energetic and passionate, while cool colors like blues and greens evoke calmness, peace, and sometimes sadness. 7) I choose colors and tones based on the mood and emotions I want to convey in my picture. In this series, you’ll find some of my basic adjustments, including color grading, curves, and removing distracting elements. I hope you can find these steps to be helpful!” You can read the full interview with @ashrafularefin by visiting the link in our bio!

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Creative Contest! #PeaktoContest / We’ve joined forces with @cyme.io and their powerful software, Peakto — which helps you organize your photos and videos in one place like magic — for a special contest, and we’re looking for three winners! 🥇 1st Prize Sony ZV-E10 Peakto Lifetime License Digital Magazine in-depth interviews with CYME and Nomadict   🥈 2nd Prize Peakto 2-year License 🥉 3rd Prize Peakto 1-year License TO PARTICIPATE:  1️⃣ Click the link in our bio to download Peakto for free (Mac only) 2️⃣ Use Peakto to find your best photo series and turn it into a carousel post.  There are 2 creative paths to choose from:  Entry A: Through the Years Entry B: Single Words to Hidden Gems  3️⃣ Post your carousel and tell us which Peakto feature helped you build your series. 👉 Include this line in your caption: “My entry for the @cyme.io & @nomadict contest.” ✅ Don’t forget to tag #PeaktoContest and follow @cyme.io to validate your entry! 🗓️ DEADLINE: JULY 20TH AT MIDNIGHT (CET)  📸 We all shoot thousands of images over time, storing them across different devices, drives, and folders. That’s why we’re excited to share Peakto with you — a smart, visual hub that brings everything together in one place. It helps you reconnect with your best work, faster — like rediscovering your own archive with fresh eyes! We can’t wait to see what you’ll uncover. You might be surprised by your own art! And we are looking forward to highlighting the entries we love in our feed and stories! 📸 🚀 #PeaktoContest is now live!

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