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Help - Photo with bad light

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Wade Coleman said:
Can this photo be salvaged? I am very new to PS 7. I would like
to lighten selectively without losing too much detail.

I have some others like it so listing whatever steps you might take
would be helpful. (Note: the man's shirt is light pink not white)

Thanks from another newbie.



Full size image link below:

http://home.comcast.net/~whcivth/wsb/media/243394/site1.JPG
Click to expand...
i would try this:

hit ctrl-alt-tilde( )
that selects the lightesr parts of the image
then select> inverse to select the darkest parts.
then ctrl-j to put the selected dark parts on a new layer
change mode to screen
adjust layer opacity

feivel
 
As an alternative to fievel's method you could also try this (I find it so useful I created an action to run it):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=5447444

Then do a contrast mask layer using a duplicate background layer.
1. Image> Adjustments> Desaturate
2. Image> Adjustments> Invert
3. Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Radius 60 to 90)
4. Layer Blend Mode to Soft Light; Opacity to suit but not more than 80%

The Contrast Mask layer will help to bring back some of the background contrast lost in the Fill Flash routine.

Both methods should get you a satisfactory result.

Bud
A few photos: http://www.pbase.com/bud_b
Read the DP FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
 
Bud/B said:
As an alternative to fievel's method you could also try this (I
find it so useful I created an action to run it):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=5447444
Click to expand...
Is all of the below included in the action or is this after running the action?
Bud/B said:
Then do a contrast mask layer using a duplicate background layer.
1. Image> Adjustments> Desaturate
2. Image> Adjustments> Invert
3. Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Radius 60 to 90)
4. Layer Blend Mode to Soft Light; Opacity to suit but not more
than 80%

The Contrast Mask layer will help to bring back some of the
background contrast lost in the Fill Flash routine.

Both methods should get you a satisfactory result.

Bud
A few photos: http://www.pbase.com/bud_b
Read the DP FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Click to expand...
Thanks Bud and Fievel, will these methods allow lightening only on the people or will the adjustments be uniform over the whole photo?

I wish I could see your results with these techniques, so I could compare my proficiency with these techniques to yours.

I would welcome anyone who wanted to edit the higher res image. I have made some attempts with levels that just look washed out and I have seen some amazing results in this forum from the resident magicians.

Thank you again for the replies.

Wade
 
Wade Coleman said:
Bud/B said:
As an alternative to fievel's method you could also try this (I
find it so useful I created an action to run it):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=5447444
Click to expand...
Is all of the below included in the action or is this after running
the action?
Wade Coleman said:
Then do a contrast mask layer using a duplicate background layer.
1. Image> Adjustments> Desaturate
2. Image> Adjustments> Invert
3. Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Radius 60 to 90)
4. Layer Blend Mode to Soft Light; Opacity to suit but not more
than 80%

The Contrast Mask layer will help to bring back some of the
background contrast lost in the Fill Flash routine.

Both methods should get you a satisfactory result.

Bud
A few photos: http://www.pbase.com/bud_b
Read the DP FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Click to expand...
Thanks Bud and Fievel, will these methods allow lightening only on
the people or will the adjustments be uniform over the whole photo?

I wish I could see your results with these techniques, so I could
compare my proficiency with these techniques to yours.

I would welcome anyone who wanted to edit the higher res image. I
have made some attempts with levels that just look washed out and I
have seen some amazing results in this forum from the resident
magicians.

Thank you again for the replies.

Wade
Click to expand...
both methods will lighten the darker areas more than the lighter areas.

as a matter of fact with buds technique you should see some darkening of the light areas
i will try to post an example tonight

feivel
 
I prefer a vertical crop as well


Wade Coleman said:
Can this photo be salvaged? I am very new to PS 7. I would like
to lighten selectively without losing too much detail.

I have some others like it so listing whatever steps you might take
would be helpful. (Note: the man's shirt is light pink not white)

Thanks from another newbie.



Full size image link below:

http://home.comcast.net/~whcivth/wsb/media/243394/site1.JPG
Click to expand...
--
Mark
http://adigitalfreak.deviantart.com/gallery/

Digital Defuser http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=5406554
 
Wade Coleman said:
Bud/B said:
As an alternative to fievel's method you could also try this (I
find it so useful I created an action to run it):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=5447444
Click to expand...
Is all of the below included in the action or is this after running
the action?
Click to expand...
No, the method described in the thread is a seperate technique.
Wade Coleman said:
Wade Coleman said:
Then do a contrast mask layer using a duplicate background layer.
1. Image> Adjustments> Desaturate
2. Image> Adjustments> Invert
3. Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (Radius 60 to 90)
4. Layer Blend Mode to Soft Light; Opacity to suit but not more
than 80%

The Contrast Mask layer will help to bring back some of the
background contrast lost in the Fill Flash routine.

Both methods should get you a satisfactory result.
Click to expand...
Thanks Bud and Fievel, will these methods allow lightening only on
the people or will the adjustments be uniform over the whole photo?
Click to expand...
These methods apply the changes to the whole image. To restrict the application areas you can add a layer mask to reveal/hide regions you don't want affected.
Wade Coleman said:
I wish I could see your results with these techniques, so I could
compare my proficiency with these techniques to yours.
Click to expand...
Original



Edited Using Fill Flash + Contrast Mask



Bud
A few photos: http://www.pbase.com/bud_b
Read the DP FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
 
digital-freak said:

Wade Coleman said:
Can this photo be salvaged? I am very new to PS 7. I would like
to lighten selectively without losing too much detail.

I have some others like it so listing whatever steps you might take
would be helpful. (Note: the man's shirt is light pink not white)

Thanks from another newbie.



Full size image link below:

http://home.comcast.net/~whcivth/wsb/media/243394/site1.JPG
Click to expand...
--
Mark
http://adigitalfreak.deviantart.com/gallery/
Digital Defuser
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=5406554
Click to expand...
--
Mark
http://adigitalfreak.deviantart.com/gallery/

Digital Defuser http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=5406554
 
Try this, Wade:

(I always duplicate the background layer before attempting any photoediting and never do anything on the background layer. It’s insurance in case I screw up.)

Duplicate the background layer twice, so you have background, background copy 1 and background copy 2. On background copy 2 layer, set layer to overlay, go to image, adjust, desaturate, then image, adjust, invert. Set opacity of layer to 80%. Apply Gaussian blur from 20 to 100 pixels (to your liking). Image will have lower contrast. This gives a background to my liking but the three people are still too dark.

Merge background copy 1 and background copy 2. Don’t merge the background layer. Duplicate the merged background copy into a new layer. Extract the three people from the background. Filter, extract is easy in your example. Set this extracted layer to screen, opacity 60% (to your liking). If you are absolutely, positively sure you will not make further edits, then flatten your image. I keep my files in layered .psd format unless I am giving an image to someone without Photoshop.

I like the effect achieved with the extraction; it harkens back to the synchro-sun look of flashbulb days. This lighting is flattering, especially to women “of a certain age,” since it subdues facial wrinkles. Fiddling with the layer's contrast and brightness will make it more “natural” if that’s your wish.

Good luck. Show us your results.
 
Thank you all very much for the responses. I will post some results and tell you which method I used.

You all have been very kind with your time and knowledge.

Wade
 
Bud Guinn said:
Wade,

there appears to be a bunch of noise in the large version...had you
already adjusted the levels?
Click to expand...
I may have. I remember going through a few of these and just increasing gamma and brightness in ACDSee to lighten up a bit.

This one looked really washed out and I thought I undid everything on this pic as I think the people would like a copy if I can massage it correctly. I may not have undone everything however.

I liked your version with the subtle changes. Did you use your fill flash action for "your try" Could you email me the larger version? (he said aware of how lazy he sounded)

Wade
[email protected]
 
kitgard

Could you share your technique with us. I like your colors.

Terri
kitgard said:
Wade Coleman said:
Can this photo be salvaged? I am very new to PS 7. I would like
to lighten selectively without losing too much detail.

I have some others like it so listing whatever steps you might take
would be helpful. (Note: the man's shirt is light pink not white)

Thanks from another newbie.



Full size image link below:

http://home.comcast.net/~whcivth/wsb/media/243394/site1.JPG
Click to expand...
(check your e-mail plz)



rgds
---
kitgard
http://www.pbase.com/kitgard
Click to expand...
--
Terri F.
 
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