Photo Boost Needed: I've been trying to boost this photo out of the shadows without blowing out the highlights and design in the blouse. The first is the original and the second is my...

gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

I've been trying to boost this photo out of the shadows without blowing out the highlights and design in the blouse. The first is the original and the second is my attempt with also some touch up on facial lines. Still appears a little flat. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

Original

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My Attempt

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

Lightening Shadows and toning down Highlights (Lightroom) worked so well with this, I didn't do much else. An inverted radial filter round the face for a bit of extra brightening, colour and sharpness, an uninverted radial filter round the whole figure for an off-centre vignette. Contrast and saturation for the eyes (just the whites and pupils).

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gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

R.G. wrote:

Lightening Shadows and toning down Highlights (Lightroom) worked so well with this, I didn't do much else. An inverted radial filter round the face for a bit of extra brightening, colour and sharpness, an uninverted radial filter round the whole figure for an off-centre vignette. Contrast and saturation for the eyes (just the whites and pupils).
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Looks like you got the task accomplished well. Still appears a little dark but I think that's my monitor. Thanks for your work!

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

gypsy02 wrote:

I've been trying to boost this photo out of the shadows without blowing out the highlights and design in the blouse. The first is the original and the second is my attempt with also some touch up on facial lines. Still appears a little flat. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

You didn't mention what you are using, but, if you are using an editor that does layers and masks, then, using PS for example, I would make an adjustment layer, say for brightness and contrast, then adjust it until the face looks right, not worrying about the rest of the picture, then, make the mask all black, then paint white over the face, and anything else you want lightened. You can do this with additional adjustment layers as well. I did this with just the brightness/contrast, and not touching the sweater. I missed a little on her neckline that shows what the effect was.

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Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

This may be too much of a change, and if so, please let me know and I will remove it. I ran you wife's photo through Portrait Professional, and this is what it returned. I'll do it over if this too radical.

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

gypsy02 wrote:

I've been trying to boost this photo out of the shadows without blowing out the highlights and design in the blouse. The first is the original and the second is my attempt with also some touch up on facial lines. Still appears a little flat. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

Let's see how this works for you.

Ken

(Download)

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

with lot of respect, a beautiful picture and subject. Congratulations. The stance is serene and wise. Here is what I did , hoping you like it. Just a bit of clarity makes it (I think).
may now you can selective darken the highlights on the blouse.

(Download)

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

Same but worked on blouse only

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SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

My addition to the group.

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gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

BigDaddy wrote:

You didn't mention what you are using, but, if you... (show quote)

I'm using PSE12, just upgraded from using PSE2 although I had PSE7 and 9. I'm good with layers but haven't mastered the masking yet. But, I actually did try to mask this (so I did have the right idea) but it ended up with a shadow around the back of the shoulders and I didn't know how to fix that. I need to go back and follow your directions as I get mixed up with where to start with the mask. Thanks for your time playing with this and for your helpful instructions!

gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

mooseeyes wrote:

Let's see how this works for you.

Ken

Thanks, Ken. Nice change with the vignette and the new background.

gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

Bubu wrote:

with lot of respect, a beautiful picture and subject. Congratulations. The stance is serene and wise. Here is what I did , hoping you like it. Just a bit of clarity makes it (I think).
may now you can selective darken the highlights on the blouse.

Thank you for the compliments. You really brought out a lot of detail nicely. Thank you for both your postings.

gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

SoHillGuy wrote:

My addition to the group.

A nice soft blending to the facial details but still a lot of detail. Thank you!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Resubmission of prior (now deleted) attempt, but with a more natural look. Portrait Professional, but reined in.

Variant 2 of Photo Boost Needed

(Download)

gypsy02 Loc: Indiana

Bob Yankle wrote:

Resubmission of prior (now deleted) attempt, but with a more natural look. Portrait Professional, but reined in.

Very nice! Much more natural look. Like how it brings out the eyes and coloring on the mouth. Thank you!