https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAbGQQNwRQI
Summary
In this tutorial video, Jim Nix demonstrates how to achieve a dark, moody, gritty urban aesthetic commonly seen in cityscape photography on Instagram, using Luminar Neo software. The process begins with a photo that has already undergone basic cropping and minor adjustments. The key to creating this distinctive look involves enhancing texture, structure, and contrast while carefully manipulating colour through the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) tool rather than relying on more complex colour grading tools. The creator emphasizes boosting the structure to bring out the concrete and urban textures, followed by targeted use of AI tools like Accent AI and Sky Enhancer AI to add clarity and brightness selectively.
The color transformation is critical, focusing on subtly shifting the hue of reds, oranges, and yellows to enhance warmth, while simultaneously reducing saturation and luminance of blues, greens, and other cooler tones to mute them, thereby creating a strong warm-cool contrast pivotal to the moody atmosphere. Additional masking and gradient tools are applied to manage light and dark areas, particularly to darken the foreground without losing important details like a road sign. Vignetting with high feathering and inner light adds framing and depth, while increased overall contrast and a slight temperature shift toward cooler tones complement the warm highlights, enhancing the urban “blue hour” effect. Finally, selective exposure adjustments highlight the main subject, such as an old car, ensuring it stands out against the darker, moodier background.
Highlights
- Demonstrates creating a dark, moody, gritty urban photo look using Luminar Neo.
- Uses structure boost and AI tools (Accent AI, Sky Enhancer AI) to enhance texture and clarity.
- Employs HSL adjustments to shift warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) and desaturate cool colors (blues, greens).
- Applies masking and linear gradients to control light and preserve key details in the image.
- Uses vignetting and inner light to frame the photo and increase depth.
- Adds overall contrast and cool temperature tint to balance warm and cool tones for a “blue hour” city vibe.
- Selectively brightens the main subject via object masking for better visibility and focus.
Key Insights
- Structure and Texture are the Foundations: Jim’s emphasis on boosting structure globally adds significant grit and depth to urban textures (concrete, buildings, clouds), which is essential for achieving the moody, tactile feel typical of gritty cityscapes.
- Selective Use of AI Enhancers Adds Subtle Clarity: Accent AI and Sky Enhancer AI are leveraged not for heavy-handed effects but as subtle tools to bring out detail and brightness. That shows AI-driven tools can enhance without overpowering when used judiciously.
- HSL Color Adjustments Provide Precise Control: Instead of broad colour grading tools, the tutorial focuses on fine-tuning hue, saturation, and luminance per colour channel.
- Desaturation of Blues and Cool Tones is Critical: Reducing both saturation and luminance of blues, cyans, and greens removes distracting cool colors, helping to isolate and emphasize the warm tones that dominate the scene and contribute to the urban nighttime feel.
- Masks and Gradients Enable Localized Light Control: Applying linear gradients and masking techniques to darken the foreground while protecting important details (like signage) demonstrates an advanced editing strategy to maintain visibility and interest in key areas without flattening the image’s depth.
- Vignetting Enhances Composition and Mood: The use of a round vignette with high feathering and inner light subtly guides the viewer’s eye and frames the scene, adding to the cinematic and moody look without feeling forced or artificial.
- Balancing Warm and Cool Tones Creates Visual Interest: The nuanced approach to temperature—cooling the overall image slightly while maintaining warm highlights—adds complexity and harmony, suggesting the “blue hour” urban scene.
- Selective Subject Enhancement Draws Focus: Object selection and targeted exposure adjustments allow the main subject (e.g., an old car) to “pop” within the moody environment, ensuring the viewer’s attention is directed appropriately.
- Simplicity and Accessibility of the Technique: The tutorial highlights that this complex-looking effect is achievable without complicated workflows or expensive software, making it accessible for photographers of all skill levels who have Luminar Neo.