Jane over at Sleeklens was kind enough to send me their Landscape Adventure Photoshop workflow in exchange for writing about it. I don’t use Photoshop actions very much. Honestly, I’ve only used presets a few times, I prefer to hand edit my images. Before I started, I watched the video on how to use the Landscape Adventure workflow. It does a good job of walking you through the process and has great examples of what the workflow can do for images.
I started with RAW files and edited them two ways, the first version I used the Sleeklens workflow and the second I edited the way I normally would. I used two separate landscape images that I have never edited or published and that are typical of my landscape style.
This first image was taken at Great Sand Dunes in 2011. I have published a similar image from the same location, but never this one.
Sleeklens Edit
I used the Contrast action, then the Enhance Deep Blue Sky action at 30% opacity, and lastly I added the Dreamy Landscape action at 23% opacity.
My first impressions:
- The first two actions enhanced the noise in the dark part of the clouds. The Dreamy Landscape action did blur that out a little so it’s not that big of a deal.
- I’m not very fond of having to flatten the layers in order to apply additional actions. I would love to have the ability to go back and adjust and fine tune.
Next I edited the same RAW file the way I normally would. I prefer the image in this edit. Although, I don’t not like the Sleeklens edit.
Hand Edited
The second image was one I took this past March at White Sands National Monument.
Sleeklens Edit
I used the Specialty Dark Dreams action at 80% opacity.
Then I edited the same RAW file the way I normally would.
Hand Edited
The results are very similar in this image. The differences are so minor I don’t think that many people could pick them out.
Overall, I think that the Sleeklens workflow is pretty great. It would be great tool for a photographer who is just starting out or for someone who is not very familiar with photo editing. I will probably use the Sleeklens workflow again.
