📸 Alhambra at Dusk — RAW to Final Edit (Adobe Camera Raw + Photoshop Sky Replacement)
This is the Alhambra at dusk — a flat RAW with blocked shadows and a dull sky. In this video, I’ll transform it into a cinematic final image using Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop sky replacement. Stick around until the end for 5 essential Granada travel tips.
Built by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th–14th centuries, the Alhambra’s fortress and palace complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and a paradise for photographers.
📚 Editing Workflow
• ⚖️ Global balance (exposure, highlights, shadows, midtones)
• 🖌️ Masks for selective recovery & detail
• 🔧 Sharpening + lens corrections
• 🌅 Photoshop sky replacement + motion blur for a long-exposure look
• 🎞️ Final cinematic contrast & vignette
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Alhambra dusk Intro
01:12 Into Adobe Camera Raw — global balance setup & gear (Canon 5DSR + 24–70mm)
01:28 Global exposure adjustments
03:01 Shadow recovery & contrast with whites/blacks
03:38 Noise + sharpening workflow
05:12 Lens corrections explained
05:45 Healing tool for dust spots
06:03 Sky masking
06:38 Foreground recovery & masking tricks
08:28 Crop & cleaning distractions
08:55 Linear gradient for subtle depth
09:24 Radial gradient color tint (sunset glow)
10:55 Into Photoshop — sky replacement
11:48 Motion blur filter for long-exposure sky
12:41 Final adjustments & before/after
13:26 Travel Tips
🌍 5 Travel Tips for Granada & the Alhambra
🎟️ Book in advance — tickets sell out quickly; guided tours are best.
[GetYourGuide ➜ AFFILIATE-LINK]
🌇 Mirador de San Nicolás — classic sunset view of the Alhambra skyline.
[Google Maps ➜ https://maps.app.goo.gl/NuMdP7yL6JcUa...]
🚶 Walking loop — Alhambra → Albaicín → Sacromonte. Cobblestones, tea houses, cave houses, and panoramic views.
🍷 Tapas culture — free tapas with drinks! Try jamón serrano at Los Diamantes or Bodegas Castañeda.
💃 Evening culture — flamenco shows in Sacromonte caves, or unwind at Hammam Al Ándalus.
[GetYourGuide ➜ AFFILIATE-LINK]
🏨 Where to Stay in Granada
💶 Budget — Shine Albayzín or Hostal options in Realejo (walkable & authentic).
💶💶 Mid-Range — Hotel Casa 1800 Granada (boutique, historic, perfect location).
💶💶💶 Luxury — Parador de Granada (inside the Alhambra complex) or Palacio Gran Vía.
(I stayed at Elvira Suites — central, great value, highly recommended: https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/elvi...)
💬 Your Turn
Do you think the sky replacement is too much, or does it enhance the scene? Are you a purist, or do you experiment with creative edits? Share your thoughts below 👇
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