Problem or not?

P-E · 09-11-2005, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

Wow, that's a great shot!

Apart from the lens flare it still doesn't look quite right to me and I can't put my finger on it.

It was shot handheld @ 1/6 sec iso 1600.

Gandhi · 09-11-2005, 10:19

just a quick ninja of the noise, sharpen and levels adjust.

I think the slight washed out appearance maybe what was bothering you?

I can't tell if the pic is sharp or not. too small!

Hope you didn't mind me fiddling.

Gandhi · 09-11-2005, 10:19

p.s. I've killed the shadow detail though! grrrrrrrrr.

***Steve*** · 09-11-2005, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandhi

p.s. I've killed the shadow detail though! grrrrrrrrr.

Yeah but it looks more "real"..in most churches even with the naked eye we will not see all the shadow detail.

I like your treatment here and much prefer the last version.

P-E · 09-11-2005, 10:28

That was it gandhi 'the washed out look'......something I seem to suffer with when editing my pictures..........what exactley did you do?

Please feel free to fiddle around as much as you want

Gandhi · 09-11-2005, 10:41

just adjusted the levels really. Pulled the two sliders at the ends in toward the middle, whilst holding down the 'alt' key to highlight any clipped pixels, to the point where they meet the ends of the histogram. Then pushed the midpoint slider slightly to the right to darken the mid-tones.

If you load your original version into PS and then load my edit and compare the histograms, all should become clear! The histogram should appear to be more stretched, i.e. it fills the length of the box.

P-E · 09-11-2005, 10:45

Appreciate that gandhi.

I will have a play when I have more time..........when it comes to levels etc I just press 'Auto' and it doesn't always appear to look correct.

SammyC · 09-11-2005, 10:55

Trust the force young Luke, do not rely on these technological marvels such as Auto.

P-E · 09-11-2005, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

Trust the force young Luke, do not rely on these technological marvels such as Auto.

I am begining to relise that now............trying to get my head around other than Auto is something else

........but the friendly advice on here is proving to be very helpful

Gandhi · 09-11-2005, 11:15

^^true^^

I've learnt mosty of my photodshop skills from people on here, either directly or from useful linkies.

"Girls only like guys with great skills!
...... nunchuck skills, computer hacking skills, bow skills, photoshop skills."

***Dave*** · 09-11-2005, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandhi

"Girls only like guys with great skills!
...... nunchuck skills, computer hacking skills, bow skills, photoshop skills."

..with the latter only because you can airbrush those wrinkles & celluite out

P-E · 09-11-2005, 17:48

gandhi or anyone kind enough to offer any help.......

In levels when pulling the sliders either way and holding down the Alt key.....what should I be looking for or trying to achieve.

Sorry if it sounds such a noob question I feel such a tit asking but if I dont ask

Gandhi · 09-11-2005, 19:40

the display will turn all white (not a barrymore impression) and the clipped pixels will start to appear as colour patches. Perfectionists and anal retentives will probably try and tell you not have any clipped areas of highlight or shadow. I say pants to that. It's ok to have areas of pure black and pure white, as long as they are not in vital areas of interest!

CT · 09-11-2005, 20:01

What you should be trying to achieve is what traditionally was considered a 'technically good' print in the film days on photographic paper - that is one where there is still detail visible in the shadows and the highlights aren't burned out, so you're trying to control both ends of the luminosity of the image. Not always easy in practice, and the best aid to this is getting the exposure right in the camera in the first place - or as near so as possible, although digital photography, and RAW in particular does give a fair bit of exposure latitude to play with in post processing.

I do agree though that I wouldn't bin an otherwise good shot for the sake of a little loss of detail in the shadows, particularly where that area isn't of particular importance overall. The same is true for blown highlights although they do tend to be far more noticeable.

You just need to excercise a little good judgement at each stage of the processing and if it doesn't work hit the 'undo' button. Take it slowly, a step at a time and you'll soon learn what works and what doesn't.