Quick Color Boost technique

Here’s a tip that is great for boosting colors quickly. I use this technique quite often to help give my landscape shots a Fall looking effect. But like most of my tips, you can use this on all sorts of photos. On the image here, I wanted to give my photo a quick color boost for Fall looking effect. You’ll notice this most in the grass and trees on the LAB Color shot. I’ve actually created an Action that gives me three levels of color boost to choose from. Maybe I’ll show you how to create a set for yourself in a future tutorial?  But for now, this tip is quick and simple. I think you’ll find that it can come in handy for sure. 

To do this, start off by creating a duplicate layer of your image. Name that layer LAB layer. We’ll work on our copy for now because we’ll need two copies for this in the end steps.  First you go under the Image menu, under Mode, choose LAB Color. Now go under the Image menu again and choose Apply Image. When that dialog opens, in the channel box, select b from the drop down menu and in the Blending box select Overlay. That will give your photo a nice Fall looking effect. But this might be a little too much for some images so this is where our LAB copy comes in handy. If the effect is a little too heavy, lower your Opacity on the LAB layer until it looks right to you. When you get it where you want it, go back up to the Image drop down menu and change your Mode back to RGB Color.

In my image I found that about 70 - 75% opacity looked pretty good to me but every photo is different. Play around on some of your own photos and see what you think. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and remember, keep shooting and have some fun!

Scott Kelby’s 10th Anniversary Worldwide Photowalk is coming!

About a week ago it was officially announced, the 10^th Anniversary Worldwide Photowalk is scheduled for Saturday October 7^th.  Photowalks are scheduled every year on the first Saturday of October and this year is sort of special because it marks the 10^th Anniversary of the Worldwide Photowalk.  The Photowalk proudly supports the Springs of Hope Orphanage in Kenya. Although donations are not mandatory, every dollar donated helps feed, educate and provides housing for these kids.

If you’ve never been on one of these Photowalks, you might want to check one out. They are totally free and are a great way to meet fellow photographers. Plus you could enter the annual Photowalk Contest and get a chance to win some awesome prizes from companies like Canon and B & H Photo. I’ve attended six of these personally and look forward to this year’s event. 

I love Photowalks and think they are a lot of fun. You start by joining a group of your choice; there are thousands to choose from all around the globe. On the day of the photowalk you begin by meeting up with your group at a specific meeting place. Groups can be up to up to 50 other photographers.  Then your group leader leads your group on a pre-determined route through an area that is photographically interesting.  I try to go to new areas when I go on these and I’ve attended photowalks in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. These are a great way to see new things that I don’t usually get to photograph and meet other photographers. The Photowalks usually last around two hours or so and when you’re through your walk, all the attendee’s meet up at a local restaurant or pub (chosen in advance by the walk leader) where you can have a meal or some drinks and share photos and stories from the walk. It’s a great way to make some new friends and get out shooting with other photographers.

 

If this sounds like something you might enjoy, sign up quickly and mark your calendar. Remember, it’s not mandatory to make a donation but every dollar helps take care of some children who could use your support. Participating on a Photowalk also gives you chance to enter the contest and take a shot at winning some great prizes. Maybe you’ll win one of these fantastic prizes? Every year Scott picks one Grand Prize winner and 10 finalists. This year’s Grand Prize winner wins a Canon EOSM5 Mirrorless Camera with an EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS lens, and a Canon Pixma Pro color printer and a $250 B&H Gift Certificate, plus some other really cool prizes. They also have beginner’s contest and another contest for best video. The video part of the contest includes a Canon EOS 80D, complete with Lens, Microphone Power Zoom and a 32GB card.  A complete video package! Nice huh?

Check out all the great prizes to see what you could win. Maybe they don’t have a photowalk in your area?  You could sign up to be a Photowalk Leader. All leaders will receive a copy of Scotts book, The Photoshop CC book for Digital Photographers.  Click on any of the Photowalk links for more info and a list of all the great prizes.

Who knows, maybe I’ll bump into you on this year’s photowalk?