Great sky, lousy foreground - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/30/2004 05:43:13 PM · #1

I really like the sky in this shot but the foreground was all in shadow. Thinking back I'd have bracketed. Does anybody have tips on how to enhance the foreground? I just selected a rectangle mask and played with the brightness/contrast. On my monitor is doesn't look too bad but peeps may see the ugly rectangle line.

moodville

Nikon D100

08/30/2004 05:48:07 PM · #2

Yup, can see the box. If you are using photoshop you can try the magic wand and then use Select > Similar and if it still doesnt grab all the area use shift + lasso tool. Try levels on an adjustment layer with a slight blur and/or an opacity adjustment.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

08/30/2004 05:55:48 PM · #3

Can we see the original?

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

08/30/2004 06:00:52 PM · #4

Thanks for the comments/ideas Moodville.

Here you go Robin ...

Tranquil

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/30/2004 06:03:35 PM · #5

Mind if we run it through PS?

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

08/30/2004 06:05:56 PM · #6

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Mind if we run it through PS?

No probs, would like to see the results :) If you want to do it on the orig (2.4mb) pm me and I'll mail it over.

joanns

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

08/30/2004 06:08:59 PM · #7

There are a couple of techniques that work quite well and you can find the tutorials here: Luminous-Landscape, Contrast Masking (actually, that's just one for now)

Try it.

Message edited by author 2004-08-30 18:10:20.

Tranquil

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/30/2004 06:12:48 PM · #8

An attempt...quickly...some levels...burning...bright/contra

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/30/2004 07:09:44 PM · #9

Quick and dirty.

Opened the image, looked at the channels - Red channel has the most separation between sky and ground. Turned that channel in to a selection, created a duplicate layer and converted the selection to a mask. Changed the blend mode to screen and inverted the mask to have it work on the ground only. Edited the mask slightly with the paintbrush to cover the enter sky more completely, though you can do that with levels/ curves etc on the mask.

Duplicated the screen layer to increase the effect to more than 100% then dialed down the opacity to get the final version. flatten and save.

I posted essentially the steps required for this in a tutorial that's waiting to get put on the site. You can see the steps on these images, with text in the comments. Same technique, different purpose. Instead of desaturating the masked regions, you screen them to boost exposure selectively.

Message edited by author 2004-08-30 19:11:19.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/30/2004 07:24:49 PM · #10

Thanks I will take a look at it after dinner I just finished cleaning out may garage/studio and it was HOT OUT there :)

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Thanks for the comments/ideas Moodville.

Here you go Robin ...

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

08/30/2004 09:27:06 PM · #11

Here's the quickest & dirtiest take of all:

Into PS CS, shadow/highlight, slight curves, burned a bit at top & bottom. 1 minute, tops.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/30/2004 11:11:21 PM · #12

I did a quick edit also and this is my version of your shot.

Quick edit using the following:

Level Adjustments:
Mid point = grey cloud
White Point = White cloud

Select - color range
Selected the dark tree line
(leave selection from above step)

Selected quick paint mask
Completed painting the mask on tree line and bottom foreground with a feathered brush.

Adjusted the tree line and foregound with slection from above with shadow higlight and level adjustment. Used shadow only 35%, 35% and 15%, all other settings =0.

I think if I had taken more time with the masking and had the original to work with I could have came up with less halo on the tree line. The web version is very pixalated.

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

08/30/2004 11:17:32 PM · #13

I think it's a nice shot regardless. Perhaps try a bit of layers adjustment to lighten it up but IMO you dont really need it.
Good stuff!

nicklevy

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/31/2004 12:02:41 AM · #14

Here's my try.

I used a variation of that technique I posted the other day. I'd really like to try it on the original. You can send it to nicklevys@yahoo.ca

Message edited by author 2004-08-31 00:03:25.