How to use PRESETS like a PRO? (My secret method)

If you have been retouching photos for a while, you know that almost for each photo, the retouching process start the same - EXPOSURE, CONTRAST, HIGHLIGHTS, SHADOWS… and it takes a lot of time. Plus imagine if you have hundreds or even thousands of shots - then it takes ages. And to speed things up I created some awesome presets - a few for EVERY LIGHT CONDITION possible. Sunset, Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Night etc.

It all started as an experiment but now I retouch ALL my photos like that - I start with the preset in Lightroom and then make some touches in Photoshop - as an example, delete some distracting elements. And that workflow REALLY WORKS!

I mean, ALL my photos that were published in galleries and Magazines were retouched this way and I find that effective.

Watch this YouTube video to learn how to use presets like a Pro:

The Evening by the Thames - Tower Bridge

London has a very unique atmosphere. Red buses and moody architechture - love it!

One warm day in August I had the pleasure of walking along the Thames going from the London City district towards the Tower. I saw this beautiful composition with Tower Bridge and the lamp.

See more photos from London, UK

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Dubai - The Best Photography Location

Dubai is incredible, to me it looks very much like a modern version of an old fairy-tale. If I saw some flying cars I would not be surprised at all. Not in Dubai.

I would love to take you on a journey to one of the best observation decks of the city - located on the 42 floor of Shangri-La Hotel. Just imagine: the air is super fresh and the temperature is pleasant, it’s much warmer here then in Europe given the fact that it’s Febuary. You look to your left and you see the Road of Sheikh Zayed - an astonishing highway surrounded by skyscrapers. But look to your right: the city is submerged with the deep red colour of the setting sun. Then just look towards Burj Khalifa. The sight is incredible but I was surprised to catch myself on the thought that the tallest building on the planet does not look like the one. The reason for that is the scale illusion created by other skyscrapers around Burj Khalifa - they are also some of the tallest in the world so The Burj looks just a bit taller then them.

In fact, to me Burj Khalifa (this was my first impression) looked just as tall as the Eiffel Tower, but in reality it’s three times the height of the Parisian Star!

Dubai Downtown

The access to that terrace is around $50 but here is a good tip: just write an email to the managers of the hotel a couple of days in advance and promise them to tag this place more then once both on the posts and in stories. The managing of this hotel are friendly and they can let you visit the terrace for free.

What is your favourite observation deck that you have been to? Tag me on Instagram @alymov_art with your best photos taken from the altitude. I will for sure post them in my stories!

Until next time,

Take care and enjoy your photography adventure!

The City of Light

Today Paris is admired, its architecture is a masterpiece of world significance. Surprisingly, the French capital is actually a relatively young city. In the XIX century, the medieval center was demolished.

The process, went down in history under the name “Haussmanization of Paris” as the construction was supervised by Baron Haussmann, Prefect of the Seine County. The reconstruction of the city was brewing for a long time, but was carried out only under Napoleon III. For 20 years, from 1850 to 1870, narrow, curved streets that impeded traffic, turned into wide boulevards and avenues that overlook the main attractions.

Along them lined stone buildings in a neoclassical style. Bridges were freed from retail shops and low-rise buildings. Instead of slums, parks and fountains appeared. And after 19 years, the spire of the Eiffel Tower, the visiting card of modern Paris, ascended into the sky.