Composition & Color

What caught my attention here was the way the narrow, winding path draws your eye deep into the scene — a natural leading line through a tunnel of fiery color. I framed the curve near the center to keep the composition balanced and inviting, while the contrast between warm reds and oranges and the cooler greens in shadow adds depth and visual tension.

My Photoshop Process: All About Adjustments

To enhance the natural look without over-processing, I used only non-destructive adjustment layers in Photoshop:

• Curves: to restore contrast and depth lost in the RAW file.
• Color Balance: to enrich the warm, golden-hour tones in the foliage.
• Selective Color: to fine-tune reds and yellows for more definition and richness.
• Orton Effect: a soft, dreamy glow created by duplicating the layer, applying Gaussian Blur, and setting the blend mode to Screen at about 20% opacity.
• Final Touches: a subtle Gradient Map for tonal cohesion, and selective sharpening on the path to emphasize texture and direction.

I deliberately skipped Camera Raw filters — this layered approach keeps every step fully editable and easy to tweak later.

A Final Thought

This spot is a great reminder for fellow cyclists and explorers: sometimes the most beautiful places are just around the corner. And for photographers, it’s worth revisiting familiar locations in a different season or light — they might reveal something completely new.

→ What’s your favorite local gem to photograph in autumn? Share it in the comments below!