Lightroom Editing: Yoga in Tuscany – Before & After
RAW Photo. Lightroom Edit is shown below at the end of the article.
At first glance, the RAW file of this photo looked flat and dark. But the scene itself was beautiful: a yoga pose among olive trees, the moon rising above, and the warm Tuscan evening light.
With my editing in Lightroom, I wanted to bring back exactly that atmosphere – warm, clear, and full of depth.
Basic adjustments - building the foundation
Basic Adjustments in Lightroom
I started by slightly increasing the exposure (+0.80) to brighten the overall scene. At the same time, I pulled the highlights all the way down (–100) to preserve the subtle tones in the sky. The shadows were lifted (+60) so that the olive trees and foreground details became visible.
To add more depth, I pushed the blacks slightly darker (–16). Texture (–24) and clarity (–21) were reduced to give the image a softer, calmer look.
Tone curve in Lightroom
Tone curve — adding depth and contrast
The tone curve gave the image subtle contrast and three-dimensionality. With a gentle S-curve, I darkened the shadows, brightened the midtones, and slightly lifted the highlights. The result is a more dynamic scene without losing its natural feel.
HSL Adjustments – refining the colors
Hue
The most important shift was in the sky: I pushed the blue slightly towards aqua (–23) to enhance the evening mood.
Saturation
I lowered the saturation of many colors – red (–65), orange (–36), yellow (–34), green (–53), and especially blue (–81). This removed distracting tones and kept the focus on the sky and warm horizon.
Luminance
Orange (+29) and yellow (+25) were brightened to emphasize the warm glow at the horizon. Blue (–73) and green (–18) were darkened for more depth in the sky and foreground. Aqua (+29) and magenta (+56) helped balance the overall look.
Color Grading – the finishing touch
Finally, color grading added the last bit of atmosphere:
Shadows were given a warm orange tone (Hue 22, Sat 26).
Midtones shifted slightly towards warm hues (Hue 41, Sat 14) to support skin tones and the landscape.
Highlights received a subtle green-yellow tint (Hue 75, Sat 9), which gave the sky a natural balance.
Conclusion
The final image reflects exactly what I experienced on location: a calm evening, warm tones, and clear structures. From a flat RAW file, Lightroom helped me create a photo that conveys depth, harmony, and atmosphere – without looking artificial.
Develop your own style
If you want to build your personal Lightroom workflow step by step – not with presets, but with a conscious, individual approach – take a look at my course.
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