Looky - DPChallenge Forums

11/18/2005 04:06:03 PM · #1

I took a few photos this past weekend that I would like some comments on. In particular, I feel like the last two look a little flat, but if I increase the contrast much more, I will lose detail in the main subjects. What do you think?

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

11/18/2005 04:09:57 PM · #2

Nice shots!

Few suggestions - in Native American, I would consider a bit of color saturation to make the sky not seem so flat.

For the last two, I would suggest using curves to help get rid of the 'flat' look. Just some suggestions. The true gurus will be able to help you out more.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

11/18/2005 04:15:24 PM · #3

Originally posted by pidge:

Thanks for the comments. I always make an s-curve in curves to add contrast, but for these two the details of the bike and the man disappear into shadow. I guess what I need to do is use a mask to increase the contrast everywhere but on them, but I was hoping to avoid doing that much work.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

11/18/2005 04:28:26 PM · #4

If you're using Photoshop CS then you can use the Highlights/Shadows adjustment as well.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/19/2005 12:18:32 AM · #5

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

If you're using Photoshop CS then you can use the Highlights/Shadows adjustment as well.

Does 7.0 have a similar function?

faidoi

Pentax K10D

11/19/2005 12:23:03 AM · #6

Originally posted by jpeters:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
If you're using Photoshop CS then you can use the Highlights/Shadows adjustment as well.

Does 7.0 have a similar function?

Unfortunately not.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/19/2005 01:49:49 AM · #7

Originally posted by jpeters:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
If you're using Photoshop CS then you can use the Highlights/Shadows adjustment as well.

Does 7.0 have a similar function?

Yes:

cntrl-alt-tilde (~) slects a feathered selection of the brighter portions of the image. cntrl-j creates a new layer with this selection masked in. Make the layer mode here "multiply"

Return to base layer, cntrl-alt-tilde, cntrl-shift-i to invert selection, cntrl-j to make a shadow mask layer. Set this layer's mode to "screen".

Adjust the relative opacities of the two layers until it looks good. Flatten image. Proceed to work in your normal manner from this contrast-adjusted image.

On low contrast images you can multiply the first layer and screen the second layer to increase contrast. You can get some very agressive results using different layer modes also, although I rarely do this.

Have fun :-)

Robt.