How does Scott Kivowitz’s photography processing technique enhance sunset photography?

Hi, I’m Scott Kivowitz from . How can I help?

Scott’s sunset processing is all about emphasizing mood and color without losing realism.

• He starts with a strong technical base: low ISO, optimal aperture (like f/8), and longer shutter speeds (for smooth water and rich tones), often using a tripod and, when needed, HDR brackets for full dynamic range.
• For sunsets like the New York City skyline from Hoboken, he uses film‑style presets (such as Replichrome slide-film looks) as a starting point to boost vibrant golden tones.
• He then fine‑tunes tones, saturation, curves, and contrast in Lightroom so the sky and city glow while the water stays more subdued.
• Local adjustments, like gradient filters, guide the eye—softening or subtly blurring the water so the skyline and sky become the clear point of focus.

What part of sunset photography are you most interested in improving: shooting technique or post-processing?