How can I make the shadows and highlights better?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/15/2004 11:05:44 AM · #1

I took this photo of my five year-old son yesterday afternoon as my kids were swimming. I ran it through Photoshop 6 and haven't quite got the highs/lows right. Any advice? I don't have the first clue about all that layering and masking stuff, so I just use the autos and sometimes adjust in levels or curves until it looks better, but nothing scientific. Anyway, help is appreciated. I just loved his little expression! :o)

photom

Nikon D200

06/15/2004 11:14:56 AM · #2

Well - if you had CS - you could use the shadow/highlight adjustment - itworks well. But since you don't - why not try a little dodging/burning?

06/15/2004 11:15:52 AM · #3

Originally posted by photom:

Well - if you had CS - you could use the shadow/highlight adjustment - itworks well. But since you don't - why not try a little dodging/burning?

That sounds scary...but I guess it can't hurt! ;o)

bongo

06/15/2004 11:29:02 AM · #4

Laurie:
I do terrible with posting photos in these forums! Don't know what the heck I'm doing.
I copied your son's photo and played with settings in Photoshop
Have a look.
(Hope this works)
//groups.msn.com/Asktheoleproaboutphotography/sunrise.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=32362

Message edited by author 2004-06-15 11:54:13.

bongo

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Canon

06/15/2004 11:32:15 AM · #5

I could've pumped up the saturation a bit more and less on neat image.
Let me know once you've viewed it and I will remove the pic from the web location.
PM me if you have any questions.

Kha0S

Canon EOS-20D

06/15/2004 11:39:13 AM · #6

I'd also tweak the white balance a little bit... the tones in the image are kind of cold for a portrait, particularly one from the summertime.

Try using the Levels tool and adjusting the color channels to make the colors warmer.

/Andrew

Kha0S

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Canon

06/15/2004 11:49:05 AM · #7

Originally posted by Kha0S:

Here's my edit... did some levels (brought down the blue and green, brought up the red) and a very wide USM (radius 120, 0.15 (15%), threshold 5) to de-haze it and bring in some extra highlights.

/Andrew

bongo

06/15/2004 11:52:42 AM · #8

And my latest attempt.

????comments????Laurie's Son

moodville

Nikon D100

06/15/2004 11:58:25 AM · #9

In PS7 you can use 'ctrl alt ~' to put the marching ants around the highlights of the image. Use 'ctrl J' to copy them to a new layer. Set the new layer to 'multiply' and change the opacity of that layer until you get something you like.

To play with the shadows use 'ctrl alt ~' to put the marching ants around the highlights like earlier, then go into Select > Inverse to highlight the shadows. Use 'ctrl J' to copy them to a new layer. Set the new layer to 'screen' and adjust the opacity of that layer until you get something you like.

Message edited by author 2004-06-15 14:27:41.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Canon

06/15/2004 12:10:41 PM · #10

Thank y'all so much for helping...I am at work and have to (aackk) work off and on between checking the site...I appreciate it so much!

bongo - I like the saturation in the first and second version...he's very fair and that shows what he could look like with some color! ;o)

Kha0S - good idea...I did use a UV filter and a polarizer, but I guess it didn't help much. Yours is less hazy for sure.

moodville - thanks for the step-by-step instructions. I'm going to take a stab at it this evening when I get home and try to rescue it!

I appreciate your help, folks! Thanks! :o)

Kha0S

Canon EOS-20D

06/15/2004 12:13:47 PM · #11

Originally posted by laurielblack:

Kha0S - good idea...I did use a UV filter and a polarizer, but I guess it didn't help much. Yours is less hazy for sure.

I don't remember where I saw it exactly, but there was a link in a thread on these forums in the past few weeks about using a very wide radius, low strength unsharp mask to de-haze images. I find that it works quite well, and doesn't compromise detail.

/Andrew

jenesis

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/15/2004 12:18:30 PM · #12

Hi Laurie,
I played with it a little using the Shadows & Highlights tutorial. Basically what moodville was describing above. You probably want to play around with the saturation a bit as it does lighten his complexion a bit but it does help with the shadows. It is a very cute picture and a great expression. These little tricks really help save kids pictures as they are not always the most cooperative little models. :) It's helped with my little guys pics anyways.

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4.0G IF-ED

06/15/2004 12:21:45 PM · #13

Thanks...I will try that tutorial when I get home. I'm just hoping I can rescue it enough for our family scrapbook! I might make a copy for the grandmothers. I like your version...I can see how it works with the instructions given earlier. He has such a fair complexion that it compounds the problem, but with all of your help, I might just be able to do it! :o)

spydr

Nikon D850

06/15/2004 05:58:19 PM · #14

I use a little different technique. I create a fill or adjustment layer set for "threshold". Then move the slider all to the right in til only the brightest point is visable. Mark this point with the color sampler tool. Then slide all the way to the left and mark the darkest point. Finally, in levels, use your marks to set the black and white points.

06/15/2004 06:07:05 PM · #15

Thanks spydr...I'm working on it now as we speak, trying out some of the techniques in this thread. I appreciate your input! :o)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/15/2004 06:28:04 PM · #16

Here are the three attempts I have made using a few of the posted techniques. Any better? Which do you prefer? :o)

original

[

Message edited by author 2004-06-15 19:41:37.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

06/15/2004 06:29:51 PM · #17

There's a DPC tutorial about this, which may help, here.

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

06/15/2004 07:40:07 PM · #18

Originally posted by laurielblack:

Here are the three attempts I have made using a few of the posted techniques. Any better? Which do you prefer? :o)

original

[

I personally like the original best. As a mother, I also tend to put more emphasis on the photos that speak to my heart over the perfectly "taken" ones. Obviously, it is great to get both in the same package, but when I look at photos of my daughter, I hardly see the imperfections. My heart fills in what is missing. I have folders on my hard drive that are for "memories" only. They are just to have a "snapshot" of certain things that have passed, but aren't always very "pretty", etc. I even have pictures of old buildings that meant something to me, but aren't of any interest to others. OK, I will now shut up!!!!!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/15/2004 07:43:40 PM · #19

Well, I just realized the one I had as the original is actually KhaOS's edit of my original...the thumbnails were only different in the last number...my apologies. I have corrected my post, but it will show up as wrong in Kylie's reply. No wonder you like it better, Kylie! ;o)

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

06/15/2004 07:48:09 PM · #20

You'll do anything to get an honest opinion!!!! Just kidding. It is a great shot any way you look at it, and I agree that some of the folks here did a great job making it even greater!

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

06/15/2004 08:40:56 PM · #21

Cheating, I know. lol But I did add some color and stuff to his shoulder, played with a layer and multiplied it. Deleted the layered background so it was the normal color and then cloned in some skin on his shoulder. Decided it didn't look quite right, so I b/w'd it.

lol

M

Message edited by author 2004-06-15 20:41:55.