Watercolor Winter Lights


In addition to capturing moments with my camera, I love post-processing routines. It’s during post-processing, or “developing the film,” as we used to say before digital photography that my creative mind can fly. In addition to Lightroom (where I apply a linear profile to my camera), I also use Topaz Photo AI. Outside those two programs, I may also use Photoshop, Luminar Neo, and Topaz Studio 2, as needed.

What you see here was captured with my Samsung S23 cellphone as I left a restaurant one evening. It is a typical Christmas light scene one finds everywhere. However, I wanted to create a watercolor edit. The main parts of the edit were done with Luminar Neo, where I added motion to the grass surrounding the tree and enhanced the twinkling lights with Magic Light AI (a module in Luminar Neo). Then, I added a layer using Pixelate > Crystallize in Photoshop to create a painterly look. The final touch was added with Topaz Studio 2, where I applied a watercolor look. Although I enjoy photos closer to reality, sometimes it is fun to push the limits of reality.

That is the story behind the shot/edit. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.


This is my first entry to John’s Cellpic Sunday fun challenge.


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16 Responses

  1. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    You are motivating me to work more on processing Egidio. This watercolor version is beautiful. But I also have to learn patience.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Patience is hard to come by these days. I have to make a concerted effort, too. Thank you for writing.

  2. Terri Webster Schrandt
    | Reply

    What a cool photo, Egidio! I love my samsung s23 ultra. There are some in-phone edits and filters available if you’re in a hurry. Thanks for sharing your details!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you for the feedback and tip about the phone editing capabilities.

  3. photobyjohnbo
    | Reply

    That’s a beautiful rendition, Egidio! Processing is one of my favorite activities. The S23 is a powerhouse photographer’s tool.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, John. More and more I use my S23 for some quick photos now.

  4. Writing to Freedom
    | Reply

    I like the results Egidio and it sounds like fun and a lot of work. I haven’t explored much software or processing beyond simple editing tweaks.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      I’ve got it down to a quick routine. It often takes less than 10 minutes for a complete edit. If it’s an old photo, it may take because of touch-ups and corrections. Thanks for writing.

  5. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Molto di effetto! 😃

  6. Donna Robinson Photography
    | Reply

    Very nice, Egidio!

  7. Toonsarah
    | Reply

    This is very effective and it’s always interesting to get detailed info about workflow for this sort of creative processing 🙂

  8. margaret21
    | Reply

    Although I have no interest in post-processing for myself, I love to see what others get up to. This is a delightful interpretation of part of your evening out.

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