Complete Drone Workflow: Professional Ronda Cityscape Edit - Start to Finish (Includes RAW)

In this deep-dive cityscape photography editing tutorial, we transform a drone RAW file of Ronda into a fine-art masterpiece using manual exposure blending and luminosity masks. Master the advanced post-processing workflow for 2025, including time blending and the Orton effect to create professional depth and atmosphere in your urban shots.

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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Free RAW File Download
00:13 Before & After: Ronda Cityscape Overview
00:54 Composition Strategy: Framing the Bridge & Waterfall 01:46 Drone Technicals: Avoiding Perspective Distortion
03:03 Workflow Setup: Importing into Lightroom
03:09 Shooting Strategy: Finding the Ideal ISO & Shutter Speed
06:09 Bracketing Strategy: Selecting the 4 Key Exposures
07:22 Initial Raw Adjustments & White Balance
10:00 AI Denoise vs. Super Resolution for Drone Sensors
12:13 Color Calibration: Advanced Hue & Saturation Control
14:07 Color Theory: Fixing Blue Tones with the Color Mixer
14:55 Synchronizing Settings Across the Exposure Bracket
17:48 Balancing Brightness for Highlight Recovery
19:23 Photoshop Workflow: Setting up Layers
21:09 Precision Auto-Aligning of Drone Layers
22:12 Manual Exposure Blending: Merging City & Valley
24:16 Advanced Blend If for Seamless Highlight Blending
24:55 Selective Masking & Retouching City Lights
27:17 Organizing the Blended Folder Structure
27:49 Clean-up: Spot Healing & Removing Distractions
28:31 Sculpting Light with Camera Raw Filter Masks
31:19 Enhancing Dynamic Range with Tone Curves
33:31 Texture Enhancement for Rock & Cliff Details
35:14 Adding Atmosphere with the Orton Effect
37:06 High Pass Sharpening for Professional Output
38:03 Final Cropping & Perspective Alignment
38:43 Export Settings: sRGB & Color Profiles for Web
39:43 Final Summary & Before/After Comparison

This comprehensive 60-minute drone photography masterclass focuses on the technical nuances of editing a complex cityscape. Editing aerial images from a location like Ronda, Spain, requires specific attention to perspective correction and dynamic range management. We move beyond simple presets, focusing on a pro-level workflow that utilizes frequency separation for texture cleanup and dodge and burn techniques to sculpt the light across the Puente Nuevo.

Whether you are an aspiring pro or a fine-art enthusiast, this tutorial covers the "why" behind every slider. We explore how to handle color casts often found in long exposures and how to integrate light trails seamlessly into your blue hour compositions. By the end of this session, you will understand how to bridge the gap between a raw drone capture and a gallery-ready artwork.

#CityscapePhotography #DroneEditing #PhotoshopTutorial #RondaSpain #LuminosityMasks