Red rowan berries among golden leaves — a simple autumn detail brought to life with warm tones and gentle contrast in Photoshop
There’s a certain kind of light that only autumn brings — warm, honey-gold, and fleeting. It turns ordinary leaves into glowing mosaics of red, orange, and yellow. But capturing that feeling in a photo doesn’t always come straight from the camera.
This shot had potential—soft fog, dramatic turbines, and a fading sunset—but it needed careful editing to balance the mood. Here’s how I teased out the magic without losing the atmosphere.
A streamlined import and editing workflow keeps your photos organized and your edits non-destructive. Here’s my step-by-step process for bringing images into Lightroom and prepping them for Photoshop—perfect for single shots or large batches.
While this RAW file initially looked flat and cold, I saw potential to transform it into a warm winter-to-spring transition scene. My goals? Lift the snow’s subtle textures, reveal hidden details in the trees, and maintain that magical seasonal ‘in-between’ glow—where last winter’s chill gently gives way to spring’s warmth. Here’s my step-by-step edit to achieve that balance.