Sky Replacement with Luminar Neo

Love it or hate it, sky replacement is necessary for some photos, especially if you're seeking high-quality photos. One of the ways photographers can get higher-quality night exposures is by using a tracker to capture the night sky. Trackers allow a photographer to use lower ISOs, stop down from wide open, and use longer shutter speeds while retaining pinpoint stars. This approach results in lower noise and fewer lens distortions, like coma, common in night landscape photos. However, the tracker's movement, which retains pinpoint stars, results in a blurred foreground. Therefore, a tracked sky must be composited into a static exposure for a foreground.

Photoshop is an excellent place to composite, but it can be intimidating too. I've been testing Luminar Neo and have been impressed with the ease and accuracy of the Sky AI replacement tool. 

In the above video, watch as I composite this barn foreground with a tracked Milky Way photo taken on the same night facing the same direction using Lightroom and Luminar Neo. Once the image is composited, I can then finish my post-processing workflow. 

You'll be amazed at how easy sky replacement can be with a tool like Luminar Neo Sky AI.

Foreground was taken during blue hour ISO 400, 24mm, f9, 6 seconds - Sky single-tracked exposure ISO 1600, 35mm, f3.2, 120 seconds.

If you are interested in Luminar Neo for your workflow, check it out HERE. I'd appreciate your use of my affiliate link, as I receive a small commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would benefit you in your photography.