Create Stunning Sunsets in Aurora HDR
Here’s my sunset workflow in Aurora HDR - enjoy!
In this video, I share my Aurora HDR workflow for creating lovely and colorful sunsets. It’s quite easy and quick, and involves just a few key filters. Follow along and enjoy. Let me know how it goes for you!
Sunset at Pennybacker Bridge
A lovely sunset at my favorite sunset spot in Austin…
My favorite sunset spot in Austin, and just a few miles from home. Doesn’t get easier than that! I went up here recently, just to get out and shoot a few. I didn’t bring a bag full of gear. Just one lens on my camera and a tripod. No filters, no video equipment, nothing else. It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing to just stand there, take in the view and shoot. Luckily the sunset sky was cooperative, too!
Sunsets close to home
A lovely sunset that happened while I was out shooting at a local park…
I went over to my favorite local hiking trail the other day to shoot and film a little bit, and upon departing just had to stop for one last shot of the sunset. I was there to shoot that little waterfall, but sometimes when you back up and look at the bigger scene you realize that’s a good shot too!
A night out in London
A night time HDR shot handheld on evening in London…
I have really grown to love shooting at night. It’s taken me a while to really embrace it, but now I love it. I used to always want to quite after sunset and blue hour ended, thinking the good light was all gone. Well, it may be gone by then but in a city there is always something interesting to photograph. While wandering one evening in London, I stopped in my tracks as I approached this scene. It’s not incredible or amazing or anything, but it caught my eye and thought it was well worth a quick stop for!
Skylum Black Friday deals!
Here’s the skinny on the Skylum Black Friday deals for Luminar and Aurora HDR!
Luminar and Aurora HDR by Skylum are by far my two favorite editing apps for my photos. I use them both all the time, and as you may well know, make a lot of tutorial videos about both of them. Well now is the time to jump in and get them if you have been waiting. They have some great bonuses for Black Friday and you can also save $10 on each app using my coupon code JIMNIX. Just plug it in at checkout and save! :-)
Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions!
You can read all about these offers here: https://skylum.com/newsletter/1763
PREFER A VIDEO? HERE IT IS - CHECK IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS!
Luminar 2018 + Aurora HDR 2019 Bundle Black Friday Offer
Offer availability:
The Luminar + Aurora HDR Bundle Black Friday Offer will be available from November 21 through 28.
Pricing:
● New users can purchase Luminar 2018 + Aurora HDR 2019 Bundle for US $119 instead of US$168 (US $49 OFF).
*Note that coupon codes won’t work for the Luminar 2018 + Aurora HDR 2019 Bundle and won’t give any additional savings on this offer.
Luminar 2018 Black Friday Offer
Offer availability:
The Luminar 2018 Black Friday Offer will be available from November 21 through 28.
Pricing:
New users can purchase Luminar 2018 for US$59 ( US$49 with coupon code JIMNIX).
Current users of Luminar 2017 can upgrade for US$49 ( US$39 with coupon code JIMNIX).
*A special Black Friday Creative Collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase in addition to Pre-Sale Bonuses.
Exclusive Black Friday Bonuses:
● 1 year of FREE SmugMug Portfolio plan ( US$180 )
● 119 Dramatic & Romantic Sky Overlays ( US$29 )
● 20% OFF COOPH Photography Apparel and accessories (on all purchases over EUR100 )
*Those who purchase Luminar from November 1 through 28 will get these bonuses for free.
Pre-Sale Offer Bonuses:
● ViewBug: 3-month Pro membership ( US$42 )
● KelbyOne: 2-month Pro membership ( US$40 )
● Rocky Nook: Choice of ANY e-book ( US$40 )
● Daniel Kordan: Awesome Landscapes Tutorial ( US$29 )
● Manfrotto & Gitzo: $20 gift card on any $120 purchase ( US$20 )
Aurora HDR 2019 Black Friday Offer
Offer availability: The Aurora HDR 2019 Black Friday Offer will be available from November 21 through 28.
Pricing:
New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2019 for US$99 ( US$89 with coupon code JIMNIX).
Aurora HDR 2019 users can upgrade at the Black Friday price of US$59 ( US$49 with coupon code JIMNIX).
Bonuses:
● 1 year of FREE SmugMug Portfolio plan ( US$180 )
● 3 months free of Stuck in Сustoms Passport membership ( US$30)
Over the Top HDR in Aurora HDR 2019
Sometimes you just want to go a bit crazy with your HDR work, and that is totally fine.
Sometimes you just want to push those sliders pretty far to the right!
I think just about everyone starts out on their HDR journey by pushing things past the point of reality, and that’s ok. Everyone does it, and there’s no reason to apologize for it. Many people then taper back their use of HDR as time passes, including me, but there are times when you just want to go a bit crazy. Let’s face it - it can be fun. So when I came across this scene in London, I knew right away that I would be pushing it pretty hard when it came time to process the shot. Follow along in this video while I walk you through my workflow.
Aurora HDR 2019: Sample Workflow and New Features
In this video I dive a little deeper into the new Aurora HDR 2019, showing off the new features as well as sharing some workflow tips. Enjoy!
In this video I share a more detailed look at Aurora HDR 2019 and walk through an editing session using this great new product. I talk about and demonstrate new features and share my insights along the way as well. Follow along!
Sunrise in Dublin
Sunrise in lovely Dublin, Ireland…
It’s so rewarding to get up for sunrise and walk the streets in a foreign city. I try and do it at least once on every trip, and I am always rewarded with great photographs.
The thing is that everyone likes to sleep in a bit, so if you are up and out at sunrise you are pretty likely to be able to photograph popular spots when they are empty. That is exactly what happened for me in Dublin, Ireland. I wandered around in the Temple Bar district and had these usually crowded streets all to myself. Sunrise was pretty, too!
Aurora HDR 2019 First Look and Preorders!
Aurora HDR 2019 is open for preorders - get it while it’s hot! And check out my preview video which shows all the cool new stuff!
Skylum Announces Preorders for Aurora HDR 2019!
Preorders begin September 12 and it is released on October 4
Current users can upgrade for $49
New users can purchase for $89
Several great bonuses come with your preorder
Click ***HERE*** to get your preorder!
Jim’s thoughts on the new Aurora HDR 2019
I’ve been using this product for about a week now, and it’s been great fun. It’s really quick and the photos are turning out great. Obviously I’m a fan of HDR, from gentle to extreme looks, but I must say that the new Quantum HDR Engine really does a great job of crafting very subtle and realistic base HDR photos. From there you of course have the option to stylize any way you please. Yes, there is a brand-new HDR engine running underneath all of this, and it is wonderful. Here’s the description of it in their words:
Skylum’s Quantum HDR Engine harnesses the power of AI for a more streamlined editing experience than ever before. It reduces burned-out colors, loss of contrast, noise and unnatural lighting caused by halos and unstable deghosting.
The Quantum HDR Engine has taken three years to create within Skylum’s AI lab, and contains the vast knowledge of the development team paired with artificial intelligence to bring you seamless HDR editing, be it with a single image or multiple bracketed shots.
Skylum’s developers tested thousands of bracketed shots through a neural network, and used the results to develop the technology needed for creating incredible HDR photographs - whether it’s real estate, landscape, cityscape or any other type of HDR photography.
The update to the HDR Enhance filter which now includes the new HDR Smart Structure slider is just awesome. I love that slider and have been using it on every shot. It really does seem intelligent in that it seems to apply structure where I want it (walls, etc) while not creating a lot of noise and artifacts where I don’t want them (skies and water, for example). It’s powerful and smart.
The product also does wonders on single exposures. You don’t have to be out there shooting brackets in order to benefit from the power of Aurora HDR. You can craft a natural-looking photo in Aurora 2019 from a single exposure, or even go more extreme and get a full-on HDR look if you want. It’s flexible, powerful and totally up to you.
Below are some screenshots of photos in the new version, and be sure to check out my First Look video as well. There’s a lot in there! Let me know if you have any questions!
First Look Video - check it out my friends!
Check out these before/after screenshots!
About Aurora HDR 2019:
Skylum’s Quantum HDR Engine harnesses the power of AI for a more streamlined editing experience than ever before. It reduces burned-out colors, loss of contrast, noise and unnatural lighting caused by halos and unstable deghosting.
The Quantum HDR Engine has taken three years to create within Skylum’s AI lab, and contains the vast knowledge of the development team paired with artificial intelligence to bring you seamless HDR editing, be it with a single image or multiple bracketed shots.
Skylum’s developers tested thousands of bracketed shots through a neural network, and used the results to develop the technology needed for creating incredible HDR photographs - whether it’s real estate, landscape, cityscape or any other type of HDR photography.
Here are the big, important changes:
New Quantum HDR Engine
LUTs support with 11 New Integrated LUTs
Photoshop plugins support
New HDR Smart Structure filter for realistic and artefact-free structure (can be found in the new HDR Enhance filter)
Presets are now called ‘Looks’
Improved Adjustable Gradient filter with new sliders for Shadows and Highlights added
Improved HDR Details Boost Effect (the photo is shown in high-resolution while fine-tuning the filter)
Offer Availability:
Aurora HDR 2019 will be available for pre-order on September, 12, and released on October, 4.
Pre-Order Pricing:
• Current users may upgrade at a price of $49 USD ($59 USD MSRP)
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2019 at a price of $89 USD ($99 USD MRSP)
Pre-Order Bonuses:
Video Tutorial: Getting the Most from Aurora HDR 2019 by Trey Ratcliff
Landscape Photography Handbook by David Johnston
Burning Moods LUTs by Richard Harrington
Interior Aurora Looks by Richard Harrington
3-Month 500px Pro Membership
$300 off a multi-day Iceland Photo Tour