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04/09/2006 06:10:57 PM · #1 |
Hi All,
I was out taking some Landscape/Building shots today and came across the age old problem of exposure!
Shooting in RAW I converted my original into two files. One exposed for the Sky and one exposed for the subject. I then merged the two in PS using a layer mask.
Firstly, I would like to know how you think it came out.
Secondly, Do you have any tips and how would you approach this sort of shot?
Thanks for looking... links to pics below...
Exposed For SKY
Exposed For SUBJECT
Final Image
Message edited by author 2006-04-09 18:24:17.
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04/09/2006 06:17:53 PM · #2 |
Links are broken.
As to how to approach a shot like this, the layer mask method has always been my preference. The only other way that I know of for dealing with high dynamic range scenes is the use of neutral density gradient filters while taking the shot.
Photoshop CS2 does have the HDR feature which automatically merges multiple images but I'm not sure if it can handle two output files from one raw file or whether it needs multiple bracketed shots. Others on here may have used this feature more and might be able to offer more insight. |
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04/09/2006 06:18:31 PM · #3 |
links are not working for me
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04/09/2006 06:24:40 PM · #4 |
Sorry links are working now...
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04/09/2006 07:23:19 PM · #5 |
| You did a great job! Personally, the dark clouds at the very top are a bit much in my opinion, but you did very well with a difficult lighting situation. |
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04/09/2006 09:36:22 PM · #6 |
A good job over all, especially if it's your first attempt.
Looking over the final image compared to the other two I see the merging had an effect on the final exposure. When merged the final image has the foreground lighter and the sky darker than you placed them individually in the first two images. If this was intentional, that's fine, but if you placed the exposure where you wanted it for the first two and then lost it in the merging you might consider adjusting for it when creating the original two. To do this, adjust the individual exposures so the sky is brighter and the foreground is darker than you want it to be. Then when merging , adjust the opacity to get the desired blend of the two.
In any event, I have to agree with Karin about the dark clouds at the top -- cropping a bit lower might help with this. But I think this may be just another example of a need for creatively dodging and burning to enhance the contrast and bring out the character of the image.
David
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04/09/2006 10:33:46 PM · #7 |
Have you tried playing with the RAW file in DPP or RawShooter?
In DPP, you can use the curves, etc to compress the image.
In RawShooter Pro, (IMO) you can do even more than in DPP. |
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04/10/2006 02:52:56 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by David.C:
A good job over all, especially if it's your first attempt.
Looking over the final image compared to the other two I see the merging had an effect on the final exposure. When merged the final image has the foreground lighter and the sky darker than you placed them individually in the first two images. If this was intentional, that's fine, but if you placed the exposure where you wanted it for the first two and then lost it in the merging you might consider adjusting for it when creating the original two. To do this, adjust the individual exposures so the sky is brighter and the foreground is darker than you want it to be. Then when merging , adjust the opacity to get the desired blend of the two.
In any event, I have to agree with Karin about the dark clouds at the top -- cropping a bit lower might help with this. But I think this may be just another example of a need for creatively dodging and burning to enhance the contrast and bring out the character of the image.
David |
Thanks for the initial comment - Yes it was my first real attempt!
I did expose both photos to the point I required them, though felt it needed a little tweaking of saturation etc once merged, so the losses were intentional...
I used Raw Shooter Essential (Free version) which I only downloaded yesterday and was quite impressed with!
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04/10/2006 07:26:32 AM · #9 |
A little bump for the morning crowd.
Have I tackled this the right way?
How would you do it?
Thanks.
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04/10/2006 07:45:19 AM · #10 |
When using masks to join a brightened foreground and a darkened sky I find it preferable to have the edges of the foreground darkened a bit rather than having a light halo around them. It seems less visible.
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04/10/2006 09:02:05 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by pix-al:
A little bump for the morning crowd.
Have I tackled this the right way?
How would you do it?
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I'd tackle it by being there at a very different time of day. Depending which way that wall faces, it would be either a sunrise or sunset shot, with light falling on the wall and a decent sky behind.
It is tough to take interesting landscape shots away from early or late light. |
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04/10/2006 09:09:04 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
I'd tackle it by being there at a very different time of day. Depending which way that wall faces, it would be either a sunrise or sunset shot, with light falling on the wall and a decent sky behind.
It is tough to take interesting landscape shots away from early or late light. |
It is a good point, though the wife and I just went for a spin in the car to take our son out as we had a bit of nice weather (Not that you could see that from the clouds in the shot!)
I think that particular shot might work well at sun rise - Sun would be rising just to the left of that composition If I've got my bearings right!. A future opportunity maybe!.
Thanks.
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