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 02/09/2009 01:52:18 PM · #1
I think I have a lot more to learn as to what can be done to cleanup a photo, so I'm issuing a Photoshop challenge: I'm hoping some experts will play.

Here's a 4.8mb file taken in the fog--using the advanced editing rules, how well can you clean up this photo?


(I'm not sure why it's coming in sideways, at the moment, sorry)
 02/09/2009 02:00:51 PM · #2
I think it got resized on upload. When I click the "view full size image" I only get an image slightly larger thant what is on the main photo page. I'll play with it and post my result for you later.

Message edited by author 2009-02-09 14:01:49.
 02/09/2009 02:14:51 PM · #3
Here ya go.
 02/09/2009 02:33:28 PM · #4
Interesting... this is the best I got.



Did you create the light foggy areas (like with dodging) or did they come out with whatever adjustments you made?
 02/09/2009 02:34:48 PM · #5
thanks, yospiff -- let me know if you need me to email it instead...
 02/09/2009 02:47:30 PM · #6

New layer-hard light, no adjustment.-flatten image.
layer- B&W- darken yellow and green- flatten image.
Dodge and burn to flavor.
sharpen-fade to 45%

Message edited by author 2009-02-09 14:47:45.
 02/09/2009 03:10:29 PM · #7
How's this?



Steps in notes. Worth mentioning that simply using "autolevel" on the original produces a usable image. A good place to start from. In general, the first thing I do with an image in PS is autolevel it and see what it looks like; maybe a third of the time I like it enough to use as a starting point, the rest of the time it gives me ideas for which direction I want to go in, and I just ndo the step and start my processing with that info in mind.

R.
 02/09/2009 03:42:31 PM · #8
It's always interesting to see what different people do with the same thing. Here's my take on it. Editing steps are on the photo page.



Levels is what made the big difference and cut through the fog.

Message edited by author 2009-02-09 15:43:16.
 02/09/2009 03:44:47 PM · #9
I so miss PPChallenge.com. Wonder if it's ever coming back.....
 02/09/2009 03:45:27 PM · #10
My contribution:



Cropped to an 8x10 aspect ratio (cuts out a lot of negative space at the top)
Unsharp mask at 100/1/0
Levels, pulling in the black end white ends.
Curves, boosting highlights and deepening shadows.
Brightness/Contrast: Boosted contrast, reduced brightness.
Gradient map: black and white, then change layer to Overlay mode with roughly 50% fill
Flatten.
Duplicate layer, gaussian blur 5.5, reduce fill until the headstone looks "right" (sharp, but kinda dreamy)
Flatten again.
Duplicate layer, gaussian blur 5.5
Layer mask, hide all, then paint at 10% opacity over the tree branches and lower corners to bring back some blur and direct the viewers focus onto the headstone. Do not paint over the headstone - you want it to keep its current sharpness.
Flatten again.
New Layer (NOT a duplicate layer)
Using the box tool, set the feathering to 60% and select the entire picture. From the top menu, Select Inverse.
Paint fill with black.
Change the layer to Overlay mode.
Flatten.

That's about the gist of it.

Edited to add: I think the dreamy, foggy quality is worth preserving. It contributes to the mood. Nothing in fog is going to come across as oversaturated. Granted, it may not play so well on DPC with its predilection for bright colors and tack sharp images, but I'm not really in to pandering to DPC's tastes to the detriment of my own gut instincts.

Message edited by author 2009-02-09 15:49:20.
 02/09/2009 04:07:53 PM · #11
Here's my attempt ->

Auto levels, curves to boost contrast, boosted red about 20, green about 15, and yellow about 5, boosted saturation, created a black and white layer (green filter) and soft light blended it. I then created a layer mask over the black and white and put a circular gradient around the tomb stone! Sharpen with USM and save for web.

J
 02/09/2009 04:09:32 PM · #12
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I think the dreamy, foggy quality is worth preserving. It contributes to the mood. Nothing in fog is going to come across as oversaturated. Granted, it may not play so well on DPC with its predilection for bright colors and tack sharp images, but I'm not really in to pandering to DPC's tastes to the detriment of my own gut instincts.


Agree on that, especially for this pic, though I felt what she wanted in this case was to learn how to cut through the haze. So that's what I did. I think a foggy b/w sets the mood well, too.
 02/09/2009 04:19:12 PM · #13
I actually wanted to keep the fog, and was surprised that I couldn't keep it following the basic editing rules.
 02/09/2009 04:24:26 PM · #14
Originally posted by vawendy:
I actually wanted to keep the fog ...

Now you tell us ... :-(
 02/09/2009 04:29:04 PM · #15
02/09/2009 05:07:21 PM · #16
Nevermind, thought we could change the adjustment layer mode in basic.

Message edited by author 2009-02-09 20:30:24.
 02/09/2009 06:40:55 PM · #17
I still had this sitting on my screen and decided it needed a little more mood...

02/09/2009 06:57:38 PM · #18

ha, kelli - love the orb!

is it halloween yet?



02/09/2009 08:31:11 PM · #19
Well, here are the versions I did earlier ... I'll have to deal with the fog issue later -- I'll add the editing steps later as well.

Basic Rules Legal: Advanced Rules Legal:
02/09/2009 08:34:12 PM · #20

Art wasn't around and it had to be done...
 02/09/2009 08:44:12 PM · #21
oh!! well done!! I completely forgot that I saw him in the graveyard! I'm also very surprised that he was so faint in my picture--you can barely see him, yet you brought him out so well in your version!
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