Adobe recently celebrated Photoshop’s 35^th birthday, and the software has become more and more powerful with every update. That’s why is so surprising that that after three-and-a-half decades Photoshop still lacks a simple, straightforward tool for eliminating those ugly color casts that will spoil image quality in a hurry.

Therefore, it’s up to us to resolve these unsightly problems with various methods, some of which are easier to accomplish and more effective than others. Today’s tutorial from instructor Todd Dominey demonstrates four techniques for fixing this common issue—three of which are fast and super simple, while the fourth is slightly more time-consuming but delivers solid, predictable results.

Dominey is a professional landscape photographer who is very generous about sharing his favorite shooting and post-processing techniques and you can view a list of his preferred gear in the description beneath the video. In the next 11 minutes you’ll learn what he considers the best ways to precisely adjust color temperature and rehabilitate images with a color palette that’s less than ideal.

The first simple technique on Dominey’s list takes less than three minutes to explain and it’s even faster to put into practice. His sample photo is a nicely composed lakeside scene that’s far too warm to appear pleasing and realistic. This approach may be familiar if you’re accustomed to editing Raw files, and it takes place within Photoshop’s Layers panel.

All you have to do is make a duplicate background layer, navigate to Photoshop’s Filters panel, choose the Camera Raw option from the dropdown, and follow Dominey’s quick instructions. Interestingly, the image isn’t technically a Raw file but Dominey explains that we can still use Camera Raw to adjust contrast, add clarity and dehaze, enhance colors, and modify other key attributes.

Another method for resolving an unwanted color cast calls upon a Curves layer to make the fix. By using a simple keyboard shortcut and clicking on the Auto button you can quickly adjust contrast, both the white point and black point, and there are multiple options from which to choose.

The lesson concludes by demonstrating two more foolproof techniques for getting the job done, and Dominey explains the best options to choose based upon the characteristics of the image at hand. So choose your weapon wisely and banish those ugly colors once and for all. Then head over to Dominey’s popular YouTube channel where you’ll find many more instructional videos on common post-processing topics.

Be sure not to miss the tutorial we featured with another image-editing expert who demonstrates how easy it is to enhance dynamic range for vivid photographs with maximum detail and tonal balance.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all you had to do to nail focus is push a magic button? Unfortunately, sharp photos take a lot more than that. Today’s tutorial with instructor Jan Wegener reveals several oft-ignored tweaks and techniques that enable him to consistently achieve superior results. You can do the same by following his straightforward advice.

Wegener is a notable Australian pro whose been an accomplished bird photographer for more than two decades. He says, “I love helping others in their quest to capture and edit stunning nature photos and choose the best gear for the job.” The techniques he reveals today transcend photographing our feather friends and work wonders for other popular genres—especially when a subject is in motion.

Our job as photographers, according to Wegener, “is to help the camera’s autofocus system as much as possible. If we do, we’re rewarded with great results.” In other words, you won’t need a magic button if you dial in the appropriate camera settings and employ the shooting techniques he explains in the next 14 minutes.

Wegener provides this quick teaser at the onset: “Did you know that tilting your camera on an angle can actually help you acquire focus in many situations?” If not, stay tuned. He imparts a variety of other simple-and-effective methods with which you may be unfamiliar.

A second technique that can be used in any scenario is to go from wide to tight. There are actually two important steps involved in this practice, and Wegener describes the concept like this: “The less our camera ‘s AF system has to search for a subject, the better our results will be.” This trick involves pre-focusing on an area at a similar distance to where you expect a moving subject to appear.

Another important consideration, especially with shooting with long lenses, is that it can be difficult to locate a fast-moving subject within the viewfinder. These is where a zoom lens can be very helpful if you first pull back to a wide view to acquire your subject before zooming in tight to capture the shot at high magnification.

Wegener describes how to overcome other frustrating struggles by setting AF speed properly, and choosing the best focusing mode for the specific situation at hand. In this regard you’ll learn why, when, and how Spot, Zone, or Wide mode will enable you to nail focus with precision.

Wegener’s popular YouTube channel contains many more how-to videos like this one, so be sure to take a look when you have time to explore.

We also recommend watching our earlier tutorial featuring another expert outdoor shooter who demonstrates four methods for controlling “depth perception” to create landscape, wildlife, and nature photographs with maximum impact.

The whole point of post-processing is to enhance images with a realistic look. Take the right approach and you have a successful image but doing things wrong can be worse than no editing at all. This quick Lightroom tutorial from the Aftershoot YouTube channel guides you through seven common Lightroom errors that not only slow down your workflow but can easily spoil a an otherwise nice shot.

Instructor Emma hosts the popular channel with the goal of “equipping photographers with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance photography skills while streamlining the process.”  Today’s seven-minute episode demonstrates the best way to use straightforward tools to keep you on track.

Emma breaks down her advice in into four categories: Over-editing colors, mastering keyboard shortcuts, achieving perfect white balance, and using star ratings and flags to keep all your images organized so you can find them with ease. It all happens in the next 10 minutes. She kicks off the lesson by saying, “I know it can be difficult to hear what you’ve been doing wrong, but this awareness makes us better photographers.”

At the top of her list is a heavy-handed approach to color adjustments, and this holds true for conventional enhancements as well as when exercising your creative freedom to create a unique or out-of-the box effect. She puts it like this: “Make sure you’re not messing with the Hue sliders so much that the tones no longer resemble the original colors.”

Another familiar faux pax is not taking advantage of the many keyboard shortcuts that can help get the job done quickly and efficiently. She explains some of her favorites, especially for certain regularly used actions like rotating a photo, so that it’s not necessary to dig into the menu or scroll down through various options in the panel on your screen.

Tip #3 is a big one because it’s all about achieving accurate white balance, and this is one technique that requires slowing your roll if you want accurate results. There are many methods for refining colors and Emma describes how they work, one of which is using pure white for comparison.

At this point you’re only midway through the lesson, with four more essential tips for avoiding common errors, so watch until the end and then modify your everyday Lightroom workflow accordingly. Then check out the instructional Aftershoot YouTube channel where there are many more post-processing tip and techniques to be found.

And speaking of unfortunate mistakes, don’t miss the recent tutorial we featured with another adept pro who reveals several common errors that photographers make when shooting with a 50mm prime lens.