Dark Pictures

[msmack]

While experimenting with my camera I accidentally left the exposure 2 f stops down for a good part of the day I spent in Joshua Tree National Forest.

Using Photoshop Elements, I feel adjusting the Brightness/Contrast and/or Levels improves the pictures a little but there is still a major loss of detail.

Have a go at it. Tell what you have done.

Thanks

Merrill Mack

[Rexx]

Hi Merrill,

One very easy way of correcting general under exposure is -
- Duplicate the layer
- Set Blend mode to Screen
- Repeat if necessary
- If the last layer is too much, reduce Opacity

For correcting over exposure, use Multiply instead of Screen

I did this once with your Dark-Tree-One, and it already looks quite ok. Twice, and it looks rather bright.

[Flora]

Hi Merril,

here is another way to minimize the problem of an underexposed picture... It's called 'Fill Flash Technique' ... it brightens the image keeping the colours 'alive' ...

I don't have PE, but since the steps involved in this technique are very basic, I don't think you'll have problems .... You can find the steps to follow here, by Doug's post (By Doug Nelson (doug) on Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - 05:28 pm: ) ....

For your pictures, in addition to the Fill Flash Technique I applied a Levels Adjustment Layer to further brighten up light and mid tones ....

[msmack]

Flora:

Thanks for your suggestion. Looks like a good technique. I have looked at the link you gave for the steps to follow, but, Doug's post seems to be about something else. Please advise.

Merrill

[msmack]

Rexx:

Thanks so much. I follwed your instructions and I think I can salvage most of my pictures pretty easily thanks to you.

Merrill

[Flora]

Originally Posted by msmack

Flora:

Thanks for your suggestion. Looks like a good technique. I have looked at the link you gave for the steps to follow, but, Doug's post seems to be about something else. Please advise.

Merrill

...To find the list with the steps to follow, you should scroll down the page until you get to (By Doug Nelson (doug) on Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - 05:28 pm: )

[Rexx]

Even better, you don't need to follow the instructions. There is an action for it here

Look for "Katrin"

[msmack]

Rexx:

What a great site, atncentral.com. I really appreciate what they are doing and the helpful folks I meet on the net.

Would it be ok to pass on that site to a couple of other photo editing groups.
I am sure they would love to see it.

Merrill

[Rexx]

Originally Posted by msmack

Would it be ok to pass on that site to a couple of other photo editing groups.

Well of course! The more the merrier. This is no secret site, but an offspring of the Retouching Forum at DP Review, perhaps The most respected digital camera review site on the net.

You will also notice that one of our moderators here, Danny Raphael, is one of the major contributors there.

[Flora]

Thank you *very* much for the link, Vegard!

(I usually write my own actions .... but I never did for the 'Fill Flash')

:Wavey: