While other applications are catching up, I find Photoshop the best choice for Fine Art photography. It's not the easiest or the cheapest, but it provides the most features and the best features. Other editing applications are not subscription-based (and thus seem more affordable at first) but new versions require a new purchase.
The most important feature of Photoshop is layers. With layers we can make corrections, change their order, specify their intensity, change them, enable and disable them. We can apply adjustments on one layer that only affects the layer beneath it. Adjustments on layers are non-destructive: they can be enabled or disabled at any time. With layers, our creative process is asynchronous: we are not locked in to the order in which we work.
These videos are at an intermediate level. Looking for introductory tutorials on Photoshop ? The free video series entitled 30 Days of Photoshop from PHLEARN is highly recommended ! Other great resources are PIXimperfect and the Photoshop Training Channel
Let's sharpen an image on a separate adjustment layer. This is a non-destructive approach.
Let's improve the sky, using Photoshop's Sky Replacement feature. Then let's convert it to a smart object and apply further non-destructive adjustments.
Let's enhance the sense of depth in a photograph, using layers that have been converted to smart objects.
Let's compare Adobe and DxO raw conversion of a photograph made at ISO 25,600. The difference becomes rather compelling as we try to lift the shadows. Photographs courtesy of DPI Review.
Let's brush-in our corrections... exactly where they are required.
Let's have some fun and edit an abstract photograph, using several Photoshop tools.
Here's a remarkably fast and easy way to tone monochrome images.
Images from digital cameras with interchangeable lenses and scanned film are prone to dust spots. Removing spots can be troublesome and time-consuming. The Adobe Camera Raw Filter makes it much easier to find and remove spots from your images. This tool can be used with images of all types, not just raw files. It's perfect for tidying up sensor dust in areas like the sky, where spots are abundant but hard to discern.
Here's a more aesthetic view of spotting: we remove distracting elements to make the picture look more appealing. We remove spots on layers: a non-destructive approach.
Let's select and adjust the flower - but not the leaves - with the Photoshop Color Range tool. This method can be a vastly more effective than the usual object selection tools. We can modify areas according to their brightness range or color. Watch the video below and click here to read an illustrated article.
Let's select and adjust the sky - but not the buildings - with the Photoshop Color Range selection tool.