Please help a newb....

[Nancy542]

First post here....I have earnestly tried to fix the sky in this photo but to no avail.....could someone please have a look????? If anyone wants to play around with it please feel free.
Thanks in advance
Nancy

Train.jpg

[Juergen D]

Nancy,
More often than not, a new sky is easier than trying to fix an existing one. Select the sky, and delete it. Open a new layer under the original background layer, fill that one with white. Then, on yet another layer on top of these two, with the original selection active, fill in with a blue gradient. Last paint in some clouds.

Juergen

[des151]

Hi Nancy,
1st layer filled with blue,normal,opacity12%. 2nd layer selective color,luminosity,op 18%. 3rd layer curves, linear burn,op72%. All 3 layers masked for the sky. Hope this helps.
Ray

[DCobb]

I agree with Juergen that replacing the sky is the way to go. The blue in the sky on the original picture is the wrong color blue. I really like Juergen's sky and gave the replacement a try for practice.

I selected a different cloud pattern.

dc

[Gary Richardson]

New sky definitely looks the way to go with this one.

Extracted Train and other non-sky areas to new layer using Extraction Filter, then popped a new sky in a layer underneath.

Adjusted levels of new sky to suit exposure of train.

[Cassidy]

I simply selected a more natural looking colour from the sky using the dropper and painted over all the cyan in colour mode, then using a new layer and low opacity brush, lightly brushed over the top right hand corner to stop it looking as white

[duwayne]

I also agree with Juergen. Replacing the sky can make a more interesting photo and it's easy. I used the magic wand to select the sky, inverted the selection and copied to a new layer. Then, from my large collection of sky/clouds I selected a nice one and slipped it under the new layer. You can then adjust to taste.

[LonK]

Agreed, paste in a new sky.

But here's a little procedural tip for replacing skies. Blue, cloudy skies generally fade to lighter as you approach the horizon and conversely, the color will become more saturated higher in the sky. This is due to atmospheric diffusion. If you grade your pasted sky, you'll most likely end up with a more realistic looking replacement effort.

[duwayne]

Nice tip Lonk. Another is to make sure that the perspective it correct. If a sky was shot straight up it doesn't look right as a low horizon sky. The Transform/perspective command can be use to modify.

Nancy - I couldn't resist converting this shot to Black & White. Something to consider.

[LonK]

You're right of course, duwayne. Perspective is a very important consideration as well whenever you substitute a sky or background.

Also, I agree that this image does suit itself very well to a B&W interpretation. To retain a full tonal range, however, using the digital equivalent of colored filters when making the conversion is a good practice. I used Cybia's BW Plus to apply what would be a yellow filter when shooting B&W. This slightly darkened the blues and lightened the reds. The result is reminiscent of Ansel Adam's Zone System. In addition, I added a slight gradient to the platform area to balance and retain tone there and avoid possible clipping. It also allows provides balance and a firmer base to the composition.

[Nancy542]

Thanks to everyone for their help.....I did replace the sky and I am very pleased with the results.....I am finding this post processing to be a very steep learning curve but I shall persevere!
Thnaks again....Nancy