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04/10/2004 11:53:27 PM · #1 |
I want thank everyone for their comments on this one. And also ask some advice from more experienced photogs.
The problem here was shooting directly at a street light. In order to keep the center from being totally blown out, I lost a lot of detail at the edges.
The original shot was rather painterly looking, likely because of a Vivid color setting. Then, when I brought out the darker areas, there was a lot of noise. Noise Reduction and some blurring brought out that aspect more. But I still liked the picture, so I posted it.
Since editing this in Paint Shop Pro, I have acquired Photoshop and just heard about NeatImage in the forums here yesterday! So maybe I'll get better at post-processing!
Attached is the original, before processing. Any advice on how I could have captured a better shot to begin with? With more detail in the periphery?
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04/10/2004 11:59:48 PM · #2 |
Getting any detail in the dark areas will be very difficult as this is a very high contrast scene. It is certainly possible to bracket the exposure and combine different exposures, but not of course for DPC submissions.
Were you shooting at high ISO? If so that will of course raise noise, especially in dark areas. Always shoot at lowest ISO to reduce noise to minimum. You can again combine multiple identical exposures (averaging0 to reduce noise even further, but again this is not allowed in DPC submissions.
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04/11/2004 12:02:55 AM · #3 |
| Thanks kirbic, I'll have some fun combining different exposures, even if I can't use that here. |
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04/11/2004 11:26:54 AM · #4 |
| I disagree with Fritz. It is possible with this image to bring back detail in the dark areas with a very simple l levels adjustment or if you are using Photoshop CS try the Shadow/Highlights filter. When you open up the shadow areas it will reveal more noise at which time you can run through NeatImage. Good Luck! |
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04/11/2004 11:38:08 AM · #5 |
Hi David...
I think this composition is fine as is... I wouldn't really change anything about the exposure you have here. The detail is fine for a night scene, especially one with a visible light source in it as strong as a street lamp.
This photo is good as-is, but I think an added human element would strengthen it. If someone was leaning up against that wall below the light, maybe smoking a cigarette... a bit of mystery and intrigue would come into play...
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04/11/2004 01:24:42 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by qmdi:
I disagree with Fritz. It is possible with this image to bring back detail in the dark areas with a very simple l levels adjustment or if you are using Photoshop CS try the Shadow/Highlights filter. When you open up the shadow areas it will reveal more noise at which time you can run through NeatImage. Good Luck! |
Yes, it is certainly possible bring out a bit more detail in the existing shot. Running shadow/highlight tool does bring out quite a bit. The results are, however not pleasing, because of the very high noise levels. NeatImage can help, but cannot bring back information that was not recorded. The high noise levels have obscured most of the information in the shadow areas.
David did ask for ways to capture a better image, so that's what my post focussed on. You are certainly correct, however, that a gentle touch with shadow/highlight combined with NeatImage could improve the shadow detail of the existing shot somewhat.
John's point is also well taken; the shot as-is is quite good. the exposure of the lighted area is perfect. I too think introduction of a human presence would potentially improve the shot.
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04/11/2004 02:26:57 PM · #7 |
I don't think a human presence in this photo would have added, but rather detracted from the photo as David intended it in it's painterly/artistic style, unless the human presence was, say, a street artist. To me, the real beauty of this image is the contrast between the inside and outside color and lighting. No human presence is needed unless the image was made into something else, by converting to grayscale and giving it a touch of mystery and suspence, but that would have changed the entire image as David intended.
Message edited by author 2004-04-11 14:28:36. |
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