Tutorial: How to Edit Underwater Photos

Photographer JP Danko recently put together the above video that takes a 20-minute behind-the-scenes look at the editing of an underwater photo. Detailing from beginning to end, Danko shares his personal technique for turning a straight-out-of-camera shot to something ready for publication.

Starting out with a rather flat image, Danko’s technique darkens up the shadows a great deal, brings down the highlights a bit, and adds some clarity to the image in Lightroom before tossing it into Photoshop. Once in Photoshop, Danko adds details to the image through selective sharpening. Upon finishing that, back to Lightroom the image goes and it’s ready for whatever publishing or printing it’s destined for.