How can you create a surreal landscape photo using tone mapping?

Taking bracketed photos, combining them into an HDR image, and applying tone mapping in programmes like Adobe Lightroom are the steps involved in creating a surreal landscape photograph. Start with simple tweaks and work your way up to more detailed modifications using sliders like "Texture" and "Clarity." Adjust colours and try split tones for a dreamy look. For artistic touches, use a subdued vignette and experiment with filters and presets. To create a visually arresting and surreal landscape, selectively sharpen, crop as necessary, and make finishing edits. The secret is to use creative experimentation to highlight the scene's bizarre quality.

Choose photos with striking lighting, fine details, and great contrast, such architectural portraits with captivating shadows or landscapes with vivid sunsets. For the purpose of tone mapping, bracketed shots—which record various exposures of the same scene—supply additional information. Tone mapping may be used to a wide range of pictures with different tones, such as the textures of urban areas or the way light and shadow interact in natural landscapes. Have faith in your artistic vision, and don't be afraid to try out various picture combinations to get surprising and distinctive outcomes. Tone mapping works best when the source photo is high quality and meets your creative standards.

If appropriate for your vision, consider adding surreal elements during post-processing. This could include enhancing or manipulating clouds, reflections, or other natural features to contribute for dreamlike or spooky results.

Choose a picture with interesting textures and lighting to begin creating a surreal tone mapping. A wide dynamic range can be captured by using bracketed pictures or by creating an HDR image. Use tools in your software like "Texture" and "Clarity" to make minor tone mapping tweaks after merging. Play around with color correction, using "Split Toning" to achieve distinctive tones. For a hint of imagination, use a subdued vignette and experiment with fun effects. To get a surreal appearance, selectively sharpen the picture and modify the texture and grain. Make necessary modifications to guarantee a well-balanced and complex dreamlike environment that is consistent with your artistic concept. Lastly, save and distribute your enthralling work.

Start with small changes to important sliders like "Texture," "Clarity," and "Dehaze," gradually increasing them to obtain the desired look without going too. This will help you from overdoing tone mapping in your pictures. Avoid stark contrasts and focus on a balanced distribution of highlights and shadows. Make use of the vibrance and saturation sliders sparingly to achieve a natural and harmonious colour scheme. Sliders should not be set to excessive settings in order to avoid halo effects. Think about applying tone mapping selectively to particular regions, utilise presets carefully, and make extra modifications as necessary. Remain grounded in reality.