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Six simple steps to recover the golden hour atmosphere of your images! Find @lukelucis_’s editing tips below and scroll to see his workflow step by step! 🎨 #ColorProWithMe
“I took the first photo in this series as the ferry crossed the water, capturing a quiet moment in the middle of New York’s hustle.
The original RAW image, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 and XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens, had plain colors with soft steel blue, muted tan, and warm greys.
To bring out a warmer, golden hour feel and make the scene more cinematic, I followed these steps. I hope they help you!
Step 1) Basic adjustments
Highlights -100
Shadows +10
Whites +31
Blacks -30
Step 2) Curve
I used a gentle S-curve to lift the highlights and brighten the midtones while slightly deepening the shadows. This added warm contrast and gave the image a cinematic feel, perfect for bringing life to a flat or overcast shot.
Step 3) Colors
Temperature 4.500
Tint +8
Vibrance +22
Saturation -20
Step 4) Color grading
Midtones (c69346): Medium amber shade
Shadows (2642c0): Vibrant royal blue
Highlights (c08e43): Warm golden brown
Blending (100)
Step 5) Color calibration
Red primary
Hue +20
Saturation +20
Blue primary
Hue - 50
Saturation -50
Step 6) Effects
Texture +10
Clarity -20
Dehaze +6
Vignette -32
Midpoint 50
Feather 50
Highlights 0
Grain 35
Size 45
Roughness 32
Edited color palette
Warm burnt orange (d7894b)
Deep teal (35616c)
Warm amber (f2b16d)
Charcoal grey (4b4b4b)
Golden Beige (d9a57b)
I chose this palette because it creates a strong balance between harmony and contrast, combining warm, analogous tones with a complementary deep teal that adds a refreshing pop.
The neutral charcoal grey helps ground the colors, giving the overall look depth and stability. From what I understand about color theory and research, this mix not only feels emotionally warm and inviting but also keeps the image visually engaging and well-balanced.”
@colorpro: Thanks for following @lukelucis_’s breakdown! What do you think of his fantastic palette? 🎨 Share your thoughts below!