Hi Emily,
When you shoot the image, (Digital), adjust the exposure to get the histogram right in the middle of the window.
Then in PS CS2 Camera raw open the image at an exposure that gives great shadow detail.
With this image open, go back and open the same image again in Camera raw but this time adjust the exposure to give you good highlight detail.
So you now have 2 versions of the same image open. Shift-drag one onto the other. Now you have 2 layers, one for the bright areas and one for the shadows.
you can blend the two by using layer-styles (The 2nd icon from the left at the bottom of the layers palette) and chosing "blending options". This is a very powerful tool and you can find out how to make the most of it in "Help" For a start move the little triangles below the grey scales at the bottom. Also hold down ALT when you move them, this makes the gradient
softer.
Or by using the blending modes at the very top of the layers palette
Or by creating a layer mask (Third Icon from the left) and painting with low opacity and a soft brush
Or by simply using opacity settings.
Hope this helps
Herschel
"Emily L. Ferguson" <elf@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
OK. So last week I went out to the other side of my state to a
dance, and along the way stopped for an hour in a reserve around a
big reservoir. It's getting on to fall here in MA, and the central
new england countryside is characteristically rolling hills with oak,
birch, maple, long-needle pine and beech trees. If the woods hasn't
been messed with for quite a long time, like 60 years or so, the
trees are tall, close together and the floor of the woods is full of
granite rocks, pine needles, last year's leaves, ferns, asters, and
other low plants that don't want a lot of sunshine.
So we have the classic deep woods with a huge range of brightness
where the sun sneaks through the tree cover.
What tricks do you use to deal with that ecosystem? Flash? Multiple
exposures at different apertures and superimpose the results? Dodge
and burn in PS? Do you use the curves adjustment to balance the
brights and darks? Accentuate the contrast and ignore the original
situation, which is basically even light with bright spots?
Ideas?
--
Emily L. Ferguson
mailto:elf@xxxxxxxx
508-563-6822
New England landscapes, wooden boats and races
http://www.vsu.cape.com/~elf/
http://e-and-s.instaproofs.com/
Herschel Mair
Head of the Department of Photography,
Head of the Department of Photography,
Higher College of Technology
Muscat
Sultanate of Oman
Muscat
Sultanate of Oman
Adobe Certified instructor
+ (986) 99899 673
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