DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> How do I tone down a background?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 31, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 07/09/2005 12:54:46 AM · #1
Hi,

This man has a small garden and a vegetable stand for over 40 years and I took a few photos of him. I had to ask him to come outside because all my shots inside had this blazing background light. How can I tone the background down?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Cheryl

07/09/2005 01:02:05 AM · #2
Depends on what you are using for post processing. What are you using?

Also, you might try using the "spot meter" metering mode (second one if your camera is similar to my 350XT), meter on the guy, then keep the shutter halfway down and recompose the shot.
 07/09/2005 01:03:17 AM · #3
You didn't show what settings you used but in this situation I would use a fill flash to balance things out. Not too much to get harsh shadows, but just enough to lighten him up. It would also help with the contrast.

I'd like to see if anybody would suggest something else also.
07/09/2005 01:07:31 AM · #4
WOW! A Great shot Madison! This is screaming to be a black/white. That by itself will let your placement of the subject have all the attention.
 07/09/2005 01:12:37 AM · #5
This would sure look better in b/w.
This is an attempt at color trying to lighten the foreground and darken background..
07/09/2005 01:21:44 AM · #6
duoton version..
07/09/2005 01:32:07 AM · #7
A little different version... I dunno, maybe too different:


07/09/2005 01:36:59 AM · #8
Here's my attempt at toning down the background.

I guess it's still a little bright, but not as much, and a little more time could probably do more. The problem I found was that if you dim the background too much, the lighting doesn't look right.

Brian

Message edited by author 2005-07-09 01:39:31.
 07/09/2005 02:12:57 AM · #9
Originally posted by madison461:
Hi,

This man has a small garden and a vegetable stand for over 40 years and I took a few photos of him. I had to ask him to come outside because all my shots inside had this blazing background light. How can I tone the background down?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Cheryl


There is a tutorial on this subject:
Improving Shadow and Highlight Detail
 07/09/2005 06:22:24 AM · #10
Here is a shot, using an exposure compensation action in PS and layering with my High Key Sketch Action.

It could use a little more adjustment to the Curves or Levels, but you get the idea.
The High Key action makes a whole new "file, then shift drag it when you have the move tool selected to the original, then adjust the opacity of this layer.

Message edited by author 2005-07-09 06:24:00.
 07/09/2005 06:56:33 AM · #11
Originally posted by dwterry:
A little different version... I dunno, maybe too different:



wow... talk about sharpening artifacts
 07/09/2005 07:12:28 AM · #12

Here is a quick attempt to show how I would probably edit the shot if it was mine.
I used the Hue/Sat tool to decrease saturation and darken the cyans in the background. Then used the Dodge tool on the guy to make him stand out a little more from the background then used levels to contrast the image.
 07/09/2005 09:06:58 AM · #13
Here's my go at a straight black and white:


Linda
 07/09/2005 09:34:32 AM · #14
Here's a couple using the Shadow&Highlight tutorial and also some more curve adjustments and other stuff. I can fill you in on details if you're interested.

Regular color
and a little muted color

Just by chance does he have a pot bellied pig named porkchop and sell boiled peanuts? Kinda looks the man we get boiled peanuts from in Douglasville, although this guy looks a little older actually. :-)

Message edited by author 2005-07-09 10:46:32.
 07/09/2005 09:42:33 AM · #15
If you wanted to get his face brighter and the background darker from the camera..take two different shots with two different exporsures and layer them together and ues the erase tool in CS2 or whatever program to erase what you don't want from the other photo. I did this with four of my shots that I took of me. Pretty simple, really. I do believe you need a tripod to get the exact picture though.
 07/09/2005 09:44:47 AM · #16


here's my 8 minute stab
 07/09/2005 10:08:57 AM · #17

Here is my attempt to balance the light using Photoshop CS.
Replace color: eyedropper on blue tarp, desat and lower lightness.
Dodge the man using highlights 10%.
Replace color again.
Slight usm.
07/09/2005 10:35:59 AM · #18
just desaturating the cyan helps:


but personally I like gaurawa's duotone best. It makes the background enhance the atmosphere; not detract from it
 07/09/2005 10:36:23 AM · #19
Originally posted by Sonifo:
If you wanted to get his face brighter and the background darker from the camera..take two different shots with two different exporsures and layer them together and ues the erase tool in CS2 or whatever program to erase what you don't want from the other photo. I did this with four of my shots that I took of me. Pretty simple, really. I do believe you need a tripod to get the exact picture though.

I agree in concept with what Sonifo suggests.

Instead of using the eraser tool, however, try adding a layer mask that hides the additional layers (In PS for the additional layer you create select Layer-->Add Layer Mask-->Hide All) and, while in mask mode, select a feathered brush to airbrush away the black of the mask to reveal what you want to see in the composite. It is much easier using mask erase and show to get the revealed composite to be just right. And later, should you decide to make fine adjustments you easily can but it is impossible to recover from a bad erasure since it is gone forever.
 07/09/2005 11:10:07 AM · #20
Wow! I posted that last night before I went to bed and you guys really came thru!

The man is Nub and he is in Fayetteville, GA....all his life. What a sweet man too!

I really appreciate all the tips and suggestions. I thought about B&W and maybe bringing the color back to the peaches and peppers on the stand. I use PS Elements but have PS7 too. I am learning how to use it more.....layers intimidate me! More I fool with it, the more I learn.

I may have to go back and shoot more of him. He is a willing model! I have a few others in my workshop folder in my "portfolio".

Thanks again for all the help...I am going to be at it all day, I can tell! You guys ROCK!

Cheryl

07/09/2005 11:15:11 AM · #21
I'm still learning PS. Here's my attempt.



Edited to include closer crop.

Message edited by author 2005-07-09 16:10:08.
 07/09/2005 11:45:46 AM · #22
Here's my take on it...



Edit: Played with color sat/exposure/lighting/sharpness/ for layers of Nub, background without Nub, just blue background areas, fruit, and foreground.

Message edited by author 2005-07-09 11:48:17.
 07/09/2005 12:14:15 PM · #23
BW


Spot Color

07/09/2005 12:15:26 PM · #24
Black and white:
Color using the shadow/highlight tool in CS2:
Virtual Photographer's Brownie filter in a 2nd layer at 60% opacity:
07/09/2005 12:17:03 PM · #25
Ohhh... I want to play too! Here is my take....


Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/20/2025 04:23:39 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/20/2025 04:23:39 PM EDT.