How to Rescue Dull, Lifeless Photos

Every wildlife photographer has been there—you capture a great moment in the field, but the final image looks flat, dull, or lifeless. Maybe the light was overcast, the colors muted, or the subject just doesn’t pop the way you remembered it.

In this special training replay, full-time Canadian wildlife photographer Simon d’Entremont breaks down exactly how to fix that. Known for his clean edits and teaching clarity, Simon shares his full Lightroom workflow for breathing life back into images that fall flat. Whether you’re just starting with post-processing or looking to refine your editing style, this session is packed with real-world advice you can put into practice immediately.

What You’ll Learn in the Training

Simon’s training focuses on how to add depth, vibrancy, and visual impact to wildlife photos using Lightroom. Here’s what you’ll learn:

Correcting Flat Exposure

• How to use the Highlights and Shadows sliders to stretch tonal range
• Why minor tweaks to Exposure and Contrast can restore depth
• How to read the histogram to guide exposure adjustments

Using Color Temperature and Balance for Mood

• How to warm highlights and cool shadows for subtle color contrast
• When to use the White Balance selector vs. manual adjustments
• Tips for avoiding color casts that kill natural tones

Creating Depth with Gradients

• How to use linear gradients to darken edges and guide the eye
• Why gradients help create the illusion of directional light
• Stacking gradients to simulate natural light falloff

Making Subjects Pop with Masks

• Using Subject Masks to isolate your wildlife subject
• Adding texture, clarity, or exposure only where it matters
• How to intersect masks with luminance ranges for fine-tuned edits

The “Sandwich Technique” for Visual Focus

• How to darken the top and bottom of the frame
• Brightening the subject and surrounding area to pull focus
• Creating subtle structure without over-editing

Who This Training Is For

This training is ideal for photographers who:

• Struggle with flat, dull images taken in shade or soft light
• Want to learn Lightroom masking and gradient tools effectively
• Use Adobe Camera Raw and want to apply the same editing logic
• Enjoy clean, natural edits that bring out subject detail
• Are intermediate to advanced and want to refine their workflow

Real Feedback From Attendees

“The training was amazing and very helpful! Simon is a great communicator and photographer.”
— Jodi L.

“Very informative. I do a lot of the same editing, but I picked up new ways to approach it from Simon’s perspective.”
— Jeanne S.

“Because of Simon’s helpful videos, I captured some of my best osprey images ever. This webinar tied it all together.”
— Lesley E.

About the Presenter

Simon d’Entremont is a professional wildlife and nature photographer based in Nova Scotia, Canada. With a background in science and education, he’s known for blending technical precision with creative storytelling. Simon regularly shares tutorials on his YouTube channel, speaks at photography events, and leads field workshops throughout Canada. His work highlights wildlife behavior and habitat conservation through compelling imagery.

Explore Simon’s work at simondentremont.com

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you found this training helpful, the full course goes even further.

Simon’s “How to Rescue Dull, Lifeless Photos” course includes:

• Step-by-step demonstrations in Lightroom Classic
• Deep dives on subject masking, intersecting masks, and gradient layering
• Downloadable practice files
• Clear, repeatable workflows you can apply to any wildlife image

Whether you’re just getting started with editing or looking to refine your eye for light, this course gives you a practical system for transforming your photos—without over-editing.

Click here to enroll in Simon’s course and start editing with confidence.