The Simple SECRET of Creating DRAMATIC Landscape Photos

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In this week’s episode, we discuss the simple secret of creating dramatic landscape photos. Out of all the post processing and editing tips and techniques, there’s only one that I use on each and every one of my landscape photos. When I start an edit I typically begin by trying to determine where I think the viewers eye will travel throughout my photo, while at the same time looking for things that could distract or compete for the viewers attention. I always want to ensure that I don’t have any distractions along the edges or corners of my scene. I think the longer the viewers eye lingers in these areas the greater the likelihood they’ll abandon my image for something else, and this is where vignettes come in.

In this video, I review the four techniques I use when creating vignettes to improve my landscape photos. Much like everything in photography there isn’t a one size fits all approach and that’s certainly the case when it comes to applying a vignette to your landscape photos as well. If you’re not familiar with what a vignette is it’s the technique of darkening the corners and edges of an image in order to draw the viewers attention into the center of the photograph.

There’s quite a few techniques that can be used to create a vignette during your photo editing workflow, some of which are certainly more robust than others. I know vignettes might not seem like the most exciting post processing technique, but when used appropriately it’ll enable you to create a highly focused and dramatic landscape image.

If you enjoyed this video, please consider giving it a thumbs up and let me know what you think in the comments below - I guarantee I'll get back to ya.

Thanks for watching everyone!

-Mark D.

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[MarkDenneyPhoto]

Do you find these types of editing videos helpful?

[chiragukani]

Mark, Its a always a delight to watch your videos and as notification appears that you posted a video-my mind says to me that "One more new thing I can learn."

These are the tools which is always there in front of our eyes but we never used them in effective way the way you do.

Thanks for this video Mark.

[malcolmlea]

Thanks Mark for challenging perceptions - mine at least. I have always been a bit anti vignetting and saw it as a cop out for a poor crop. I can now see that vignetting can be subtle and help add that bit of drama.

[davidgilmore]

Good morning Mark from Hong Kong. Excellent video. Many thanks. I have been using the vignette feature for years having followed MattK’s instructional techniques that are also very useful. Your delving deeper into the functionality of the vignetting feature has opened up completely new possibilities. Really appreciate your delivery, your enthusiasm and quality of your video production. I will return more regularly for more tips. Always learning. Perfect! Cheers, Dave

[davidmedeiros]

Great practical tips. Not to be pedantic but its worth keeping in mind that a vignette can be used in the other direction as well, to lighten up the edges. This is less common unless you shoot a lot in fog or snow where you may have an isolated darker subject in a field of lighter background. Lightening up the edges can take out distracting detail and ad focus to the darker subject areas. Did this recently to a BW snapshot of a small creek breaking out from under a field of snow. Adding a reverse vignette helped isolate the much darker water, reflections, and snow banks in the center of the image.

[XJ]

I have subscribed and been viewing your vlogs for awhile. I like the presentation and the content. It is thoughtful and helpful to where I am in my photo-taking journey. Specifically though, I want to comment on your overall attention to the detail of your presentation in terms of background, general lighting and audio quality. Simply inspiring and nice to watch. Thanks.

[kevinyoung]

Thank you very much for all the videos. They have already helped me improve my photography, both my in-camera work and my post processing. Keep the videos coming !!

[whafrog]

Really appreciate the methodical approach you take to each video. Super helpful, you're a great teacher.

[lindahenderson]

Thank you, Mark. Great ideas on the various ways to achieve vignettes for different photo scenarios! I look forward to your videos!

[sandyeger]

You're videos are the first ones I ever look at!

[jennrichardsonphoto]

Great editing video. Very helpful. Every video has a few golden nuggets of knowledge. I never knew you could erase parts of the radial and graduated filters ! Back to the archives!

[richardwood]

Hi Mark, I've learnt so much about Lightroom from your videos. I really enjoy your style of presenting and it's rare that I take nothing away after watching one. Those F4 guys Heaton, Hardcastle, Gibbs and Page seem to be the YouTube stars of landscape photography and I really enjoy their videos but I've definitely learnt more from your good self.
Favourite thing I've learned from you is using the Alt key when adjusting Highlights, Shadows, Blacks, Whites etc. That is one awesome tip.

You've also made me aware of Chris Sale, I'm enjoying his stuff too.

Thanks for all your work and keep on keeping on!

[cjjuan]

Fantastic video, thank you for showing us a small but dramatic way to customize vignette. Always enjoy..

[JohnDrummondPhoto]

Over the last year I've learned to love the vignette. Done subtly, it's a great finishing touch. I prefer the radial filter since my subject is rarely dead-center and I can quickly resize, reshape, or recenter the effect with it.

[Spiros_Pandis]

Mark, you take some beautiful photographs and keep putting out great, helpful content. Thank you for your continued contribution to the YouTube photography community!

[andrewreece]

I often find that using a vignette approach but thinking beyond exposure can create some really interesting effects. For example, lowering highlights, contrast, or saturation instead of exposure can make some great subtle effects to move the viewer's eye where you want. Great video as always! I particularly like your editing content.

[andredupuis]

Great tutorial. So well explained. Moreover your pronounciation is so good that I did not loose a single word (I'm from Montréal, Québec, Canada).

[desertgecko]

Often, watching your videos is for me an affirmation that I'm doing something right, like the vignette (including the rad & grad filters). But I always learn something, too. Today it was using a brush for applying vignette. I never considered doing that, but I can't argue with your results. Well done, Mark, and thanks.

BTW you're getting some mileage out of that Dead Horse Point photo, aren't you? 8:48 (I can't blame you -- it's a very nice photo with a lot going on, making it perfect for illustrating various techniques.)

[pmChh]

This is the type of video that i like the most. I lerned so much from you. Thank you.

[martinorech]

Damn!!!! You can brush the radial Game changer!