This post might be a bit like deja vu because I have posted so many lighthouses recently, but it is just a coincidence. However, we are looking at a lighthouse today.
This is the Port Fairy Lighthouse, and it is a bit different from nearly all the other ones because it is at sea level, or so it seems. Most of the ones you see along our coast are up on cliffs, but not this one. I think it is one of the more interesting ones really. It does look like it has seen a lot of action.
The post today is not about the lighthouse so much, as it is about ON1 Photo RAW 2025 and how I have used it again to process my images. The more I play around with it, the more I want to discover. So today I’m giving you some before and afters, well, two, so you can see what you can do with it.
This is the first one.
When we went to see it, and I say we because I was with a couple of dear friends from the US, it was at sunrise. Unfortunately, there were so many clouds that you couldn’t see it. I’m sure it would have been beautiful if we could.
So I opened this image in ON1, and the first thing I wanted to do was to bring out the lighthouse more so it didn’t blend into the clouds. Then I looked at the cloud option and wondered, and this is where my wondering got me.
The sunrise sky comes with ON1 so if you were going to do this a lot, you would need to collect some of your own sunrises to use. You can load them up into the program so they are always there for you to use. I haven’t really done that yet, but I probably will at some stage.
I also needed to add a colour to the whole thing so the rest of the image would match that sky. I was happy with this.
Here is a before and after of the image.
Then, as I was looking through the folder, I also picked this one.
Crooked and straight on, plus maybe a sky that is a bit washed out. Not a great shot, not really a bad one either, so I decided to see what I could do with it.
The obvious things to fix were to straighten the horizon and then see if I could get the lighthouse to stand out more.
I didn’t do a lot, but I did work on the sky and then on the lighthouse. I think the lighthouse stands out more in this one. This one is probably darker and more menacing, but I like that it is perhaps showing that a storm is coming. Seems almost appropriate for a lighthouse.
I’m attempting a before and after of this one too.
They aren’t perfect, and there are things that I am struggling with. Some things in the program don’t work as smoothly as they do in the Adobe products, but I’m not surprised. I’m sure it hasn’t had the millions of dollars spent on it like Adobe. There are always going to be things that are different, but I do like what you can do with it. I’m enjoying it so much.
I have put together a gallery for you so you can flip through them. Tomorrow I have some more ocean shots with presets that I have made. That has been fun.
Awesome! When I grow up I want to learn some editing techniques an programs. 😄
I have to say that using presets can be an awesome way to learn. Thanks Sharon. 😀
Excellent edits, Leanne. I like what you did with these a lot. Good work! and I echo Anne; it’s not all the ON1 – it’s how you use it to create your vision.
Thank you Joanne, I do like playing around with the software, the results aren’t always great, but it can be fun.
This editing software looks interesting but seems to do very similar things to Luminar Neo, which I own but rarely use. Maybe I should experiment some more! Your shots acquire lots of drama in these edits 🙂
I had that software once, but when I’m playing I always seem to go back to ON1, I do know others who have it as well. Maybe you should Sarah. I have to admit it is making think outside my normal box of tricks. 😀
Maybe, but as I use Luminar too little at the moment to justify having paid for it I’m reluctant to invest in another
Sorry Sarah, I didn’t mean buy another, I was thinking you should see if you can do similar in Luminar.
nature beauty
Thank you.
Great work on both shots.
Thank you Egidio.
I began using ON1 Photo Raw a few months ago in conjunction with my Photoshop and Lightroom. I have found that is helps streamline my workflow with sometimes amazing results. Thank you for showing us some of your work and thoughts about the program.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the program, it is good see how other people find it.
Great lighthouse Leanne. I don’t think the transformation is all ON1. I think it’s your amazing editing ability.
That’s very kind of you to say Anne, thank you so much.
Amazing sky. Great capture.
Thank you so much Rebecca, though if it is the sunrise sadly, not my sky.
Right moment, right photographer.
That’s nice of you to say Rebecca.
I think it is a pretty lighthouse no matter how it is photographed or processed. I like every one of them, Leanne. This lighthouse is a great subject.
It is Lois, I think it is one of my favourites, sadly I have only been able to photograph it this once. I would love to go back one day. Glad you like them, thank you Lois.
I haven’t used ON1. Good stuff? Love the lighthouse pics.
It looks like a simple program, but as you start going into it, there is a lot there. Thank you Popi.