Show us your PP saves

[robert]

There are plenty of times when i just get the exposure wrong (usually influenced by too much sky), the dynamic range is too much or just that wonky horizon! Here are a couple of my PP improvements. Please add yours if you like.










Robert

[shakey]

Here's a before and after for me

Before...



After...



I just cannot get it right out of the camera at the snow, so...thank God for PP...and RAW

[Manta]

Here's one I couldn't mount in any way so had to 'hand-hold', getting rid of the hand and reflections in PS later.

[robert]

Shakey thats an amazing transformation- well done!

Simon- great job must have been a pain trying to get rid of thiose reflections,

[matt-chops]

Shakey, I love the snowboard shot. Thats brilliant.

And Robert, the results of the PP on that second shot is amazing.

Does anyone want to share their secrets on the how-to's? Maybe a quick step-by-step?

[Matt. K]

Nice save Shakey!

[frink]

Perhaps 'saved' is not the right word for some of these
Some of them have been saved and then some










Instant autumn

[Ladybird]

Wowsers, this gives me some hope for my photos. But then again, I need to get the composition right as well......

[blacknstormy]

Hello ladybird - long time no see

[matt-chops]

Frink.... AWESOME! That really is brilliant. Care to share any tips?

[frink]

Thanks Matt

Not sure I can offer any tips except 'fiddle a lot'

A brief run down on how I achieved the results (although they all had different methods and my memory of them is fuzzy..)

#1
Blended two layers created by using some of the filters in the virtualphotographer plugin.
I think there may have been a luminosity blend involved somewhere there as well using a b&w layer (duplicate a layer, convert the top layer to b&w then change the blend mode of the top layer to 'luminosity')

#2
Started with a custom hdr from two images (pushed/pulled from a single RAW file).
Then fiddled with the shadows/highlights tool in photoshop and maybe a bit of hue/saturation/lightness fiddling as well.
Was fairly simple though overall from memory...

#3
Custom hdr base image again.. although a lot of the highlights were pretty much gone so only partially successful.
Multiple layer blend of layers filter by the 'sunshine' filter from the Nik Colorefex plugin for Photoshop.
Bit of fiddling about with local colours and contrast etc.

#4
Duplicated the background layer. Filtered the top layer with one of the coppery looking filters from virtualphotographer plugin.
Changed blend mode of the top layer to 'hue' (or colour, can't remember)
A few local contrast/exposure tweaks.

#5
3 image custom hdr from two separate exposures. Defished with pt tools plugin.
Converted to duotone then some local contrast/exposure tweaks...


All seems rather convoluted and confusing but most of them were fairly simple in hindsight.. Don't ask for detailed tutorials because I really can't remember enough of the details

Once you fiddle around a lot you kinda get a good idea of what's going to work and what isn't early on so you don't waste too much time. I've also discovered the weaknesses of various photoshop plugins, so there's some I don't use any more eg. virtualphotographer.
I'm not a fan of 'automated' hdr programs.

Probably went completely overboard with some of them but the shots weren't particularly good to begin with so nothing to lose I guess.

[matt-chops]

Thanks for that frink.

No need for a detailed tutorial, I was really just after some general 'direction' to take my PP in and you have done a brilliant job of providing me with just that. Now i'm hanging out to go home and see what I can do with some of my bland and boring shots. Thanks again.

[azz]

From my Japan trip last year in November:



From Camera:


Major work:



Used PS CS3 to HDR with 3 images (Same original file) and then all other work in Lightroom.

[DPowell]

Hi,

You've done some awesome adjustments in this thread people, I especially like the beach shots from frink, that yellow beach with dark sky just looks incredible and while the original looks good with the perspective and play of light on the water, the adjustments just make it really stand out.

I'm very much just starting to learn how to use photoshop effectively and wondered if someone could explain the use of HDR, as I've looked through a few tutorials but haven't seemed to have picked up the technique yet. How do you make a HDR image from a single shot for example?

Any help appreciated, and once again, great work everyone,

David

[Pehpsi]

Hey.

Well I don't use PS, but rather Photomatix to blend pics. I use 1 RAW file, which means it's not a real HDR photo, but what's know as a 'Pseudo (fake) HDR'.

1. First I export the RAW to a Tiff file without any adjustments.
2. I then export another Tiff, but with the exposure set to -2 stops.
3. Now I export another Tiff, but with exposure set to +2 stops.
4. I then open all three versions with Photomatix and blend/adjust 'till I'm happy and save the file.

Here is a visual example of what I mean:

0

-2

+2

Combined


Hope that helps. I'm sure someone will explain how to do it specifically in PS.

James.

[DPowell]

Hi,

Thanks for that, and sorry that I seem to have put this request in the wrong place. I didn't think there would be a specific "help" section rather than simply under "images" since I simply assumed (never assume anything!) that HDR use would be ontopic .

Will hit the help section in the future,

Anyway, thanks again,

David