Give it some "Umphhhh!"

[nadger]

Hi Guys

Attached is a panorama shot of my local gym. It's not a very well lit place and the photos were taken using just available light.

I've changed levels etc but whatever I try, I just can't get the things to 'sparke'.

Your comment/suggestions would be valued.

Cheers

Nadge

[Trollslayer3]

It depends what sort of look you're hoping for of course but if you just want to give it a boost to look nice...

I added a levels adjustment layer without changing any settings and set mode to overlay, then used shadows/highlight with amount dropped to 25% to lighten the shadows which had become too dark. Very basic I know and far more awesome things could be done with curves and filters etc but seemed to boost the look in a matter of seconds.

[holgaman]

Hi Nadger,
The first thing I noticed was that you're working with three colors of light - daylight, florescent, and incandescent. I first tried to neutralize the different colors with Replace Color and the color replacement brush (pretty quick and sloppy here). Then I darkened a bit around the edges and used a bit of selective brightness/contrast overall. Next was a bit of local contrast using Photo Lift. I thought I had neutralized the ceiling and walls to where they looked cold so I added a bit of orange in Photo Filter to make it look like it was getting some color from the floor, and then cropped. The bit of wall to the left of center looks blotchy but I didn't mess with that here, a little D&B wold take care of that. Maybe this is going too far, it's all relative to personal taste. Hope this helps.

[0lBaldy]

My version used the technique as explained in the tutorial here: Wet Skin (used Red Channel)
Then did a levels adjustment

7.82MB PSD is here: http://www.mediafire.com/?wannnjmbofb

[nadger]

Thanks guys. Interesting variations. Good point from Holgaman re mixtures of colour - contrast is also tricky due to conditions.

Nadge

[chillin]

I would try to correct perspective distortion a bit first.

[r_dg]

well i gave it a more commercial look! hehe i made the colors even, corrected some bloches, removed some cables and distractors, added some reflections, removed distortion, added sharpness etc, etc...

hope u like, i think i made your job :P

[nadger]

r_dg - that's just the look I've been trying to get. How did you manage to correct the blotchy ceiling - did you paint it in? And how did you achieve the overall 'crisp' look?

Top job!

[r_dg]

Originally Posted by nadger

r_dg - that's just the look I've been trying to get. How did you manage to correct the blotchy ceiling - did you paint it in? And how did you achieve the overall 'crisp' look?

Top job!

thank you,
the bloches with dodge and burn, and some surface blur, overall i've used a lot of d&b to create even surface around the gym ceiling and floor. then for the crisp look, bring back some texture by sharpening the carpet and then the whole image.

[snook305]

Originally Posted by r_dg

well i gave it a more commercial look! hehe i made the colors even, corrected some bloches, removed some cables and distractors, added some reflections, removed distortion, added sharpness etc, etc...

hope u like, i think i made your job :P

I agree , better than this aint going to happen probably.
The best so far...:}
Snoo