rrayr2002 Loc: New Jersey

I really would like to make a large format print from this pic. After viewing it closey, there appears to be a dull area across the reflection halfway up the tree line. Can anyone help me with this? Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions. Ray

(Download)

al davis Loc: chesterfield virginia

I am no expert in pp but if you have lightroom try the graduated filter across the bottom to lighting it up. Some one here who has a lot more talent than me may have another idea. Good luck! :-D :?

rrayr2002 Loc: New Jersey

I do have Lightroom 5, but I am really at the very beginning of the learning curve. I do have Photoshop Elements 10 and Paintshop Pro. Also Nikon Capture NX2

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Try selecting the darkened area with a fairly well-feathered (about 50) adjustments brush set to Auto Mask, and be sure to start off with the brush properly in the dark area so that it knows it's the dark stuff you want to select. I would include the blue water in the bottom right corner, because the brush will probably pick up the bits of blue reflections in amongst the reflection of the trees, so you'll want all of the blue reflections to come out looking similar. Once selected, use Shadows to lighten that area. You'll probably find that you don't need anything else, but if you did you could include a slight brightening using the Exposure slider.

Don't be too worried about the brush overrunning into the brighter reflections a little, because if you use just the Shadows slider, it won't have much of an effect on the brighter area. Most of the overrun would be feathered anyway, reducing the impact of the adjustments.

I see there are hazy bits amongst the reflections. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about that, but if you do decide to do something about it, limit it to very modest adjustments. A touch of Contrast, Clarity and a little extra sharpening all applied locally with the brush would probably sort it, or reduce it to a negligible level. In fact, if you're going to give the main edit (i.e. the whole picture) some contrast, clarity and sharpening, you might find that it's enough to reduce the haze to an unnoticeable level.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Process...
This works will all Adobe products.
Create a level layer with a white mask
On the mask paint two wide bands that go across the water reflections. One on the left to to check the green, one on the right to check the sky reflection.
Adjust the level mid tones. The two bands you created are what you use to adjust for tonality match.
Once that is to your satisfaction, erase the two bands.
Invert the mask so that is black.
Select a wide brush (450) adjust feathering to the maximal. Opacity 100%
Click on on the upper water edge so that no more then 1/4 of the brush covers the non reflection area. Position the paintbrush one the right side. Shift click when you are at the location you need (still 1/4 coverage).
Repeat the same operation on the lover darker limit. Maintain the 1/4 overlap)
Select the mask (Alt-click) paint the area between the two white lines.
Alt-Click to deselect the layer.
Change the paintbrush opacity to +-60%. Paint over the sky area in one single stroke.
Adjust level again so that the correction fully matches your changes.
You are done.
I can post the TIFF result instead of the 50% PNG.

Edit 50%

(Download)

Mask

(Download)

rrayr2002 Loc: New Jersey

Please post the TIFF result. That looks pretty good to me. Thanks

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I will send the link in PM within a few minutes.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I wouldn't worry about it. Isn't it just that the lower portion of the water might have been shaded by something like a building or something and that part wasn't?


In any case; I would leave it.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Here's another, also removed the power line reflection on the water. right side.

(Download)

ab7rn Loc: Portland, Oregon

Open in camera raw and use the adjustment brush. I have had PS for years and never knew about the adjustment brush until Scott Kelby posted a thing about it. If you have LR5 you should have camera raw.