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Can someone help me with PS dealing with dappled light?
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Nov 1, 2018 16:22:59   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
This is a common problem I run into while taking photos of birds. I often get extreme dappled light with HUGE range of light and dark. I am looking for a relatively simple way of darkening selected areas. I do not want to replace the entire background. Any thoughts? If anyone is willing to help, I can sent them the RAW shot. I have already used an Overlay layer and burnt (darkened) the light areas significantly but as you can see they are still very distracting. I tired using Spot Heal brush with poor results (that may be a product of my poor skills).
I use DPP and PS CC.
Thanks in advance
Jim



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Nov 1, 2018 16:53:53   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Convert the raw to a dng file and see if it's 22 mb or smaller. If it is, you should be able to upload to this thread. You won't see a thumbnail, just a "download" link and the words already in place, "attached file."

There are some very competent PS users in this section, so help will come along shortly

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Nov 1, 2018 18:12:26   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
bajadreamer wrote:
This is a common problem I run into while taking photos of birds. I often get extreme dappled light with HUGE range of light and dark. I am looking for a relatively simple way of darkening selected areas. I do not want to replace the entire background. Any thoughts? If anyone is willing to help, I can sent them the RAW shot. I have already used an Overlay layer and burnt (darkened) the light areas significantly but as you can see they are still very distracting. I tired using Spot Heal brush with poor results (that may be a product of my poor skills).
I use DPP and PS CC.
Thanks in advance
Jim
This is a common problem I run into while taking p... (show quote)


The best advice I can give you is when taking the picture take it in RAW and underexpose by one to two stops. When you go into photoshop you can always bring back the birds exposure with a new level layer and open up just the bird using a mask. When you have fully blown out areas as this picture had you can't do much except clone and color with your brush.
I'm not sure if you had this in mind when you asked to improve it. I did it on the .jpg if you have a raw or full size picture it should come out better.
Jim

The second one has a vignette added. It adds focus toward the bird.


(Download)


(Download)

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Nov 1, 2018 19:05:21   #
Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO
 
You might also look into the subject of luminosity masks. The easiest, and least expensive, way to learn luminosity masking, and getting some free -- and very useful -- tools, is to go to youtube, and search "jimmy mcintyre luminosity masks". There are several folks out there who can teach this, but this is where I learned it. He has free tools, as well as a for-purchase tool. You can also search for "blake rudis luminosity masks". He is also an excellent resource.

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Nov 1, 2018 19:16:11   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Convert the raw to a dng file and see if it's 22 mb or smaller. If it is, you should be able to upload to this thread. You won't see a thumbnail, just a "download" link and the words already in place, "attached file."

There are some very competent PS users in this section, so help will come along shortly


Thank you. I will try to get a conversion and post it.

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Nov 1, 2018 19:17:49   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Jim-Pops wrote:
The best advice I can give you is when taking the picture take it in RAW and underexpose by one to two stops. When you go into photoshop you can always bring back the birds exposure with a new level layer and open up just the bird using a mask. When you have fully blown out areas as this picture had you can't do much except clone and color with your brush.
I'm not sure if you had this in mind when you asked to improve it. I did it on the .jpg if you have a raw or full size picture it should come out better.
Jim

The second one has a vignette added. It adds focus toward the bird.
The best advice I can give you is when taking the ... (show quote)


That improves the shot a lot. Could you please relate the steps you take to use the Clone and when, in a normal work flow, you would do this, I would appreciate it.

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Nov 1, 2018 19:36:34   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
This is the DNG file, unedited and uncropped

Attached file:
(Download)

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Nov 1, 2018 23:39:11   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
bajadreamer wrote:
That improves the shot a lot. Could you please relate the steps you take to use the Clone and when, in a normal work flow, you would do this, I would appreciate it.


This one is a bit different. Everyone goes about it differently with their edits. Because you furnished the dng file I started over again.

First step was to open in Photoshop. Using camera raw filter I got the picture as good as I could with my emphasis on the bird. Saved the file as #2 as a tiff. Now I made a copy layer. On this layer I opened again in Camera raw filter and under exposed the picture about a stop and a half. Saved the file as #3 as a tiff. Now deleted the layer, you will see your original edit again. Now open in Camera raw again and increase exposure about 3/4 stop. Save this as #1
Now with the three files make a HDR. I don't use Photoshop for this I use Aurora HDR 2018. After it opens I just save it and call it HDR. Everything has improved with this file.

I am giving you a link to my Drop Box and you can download the Photoshop file with layers to see what I did next.
I cloned areas out with the cloning stamp and colored areas to remove some of the blown out areas.
I made a simple Vignette layer. Next I made a composite layer Command+Option+Shift +E. On this layer I used Gaussian blur to help tone down the background. Made a mask and made sure the blur wasn't applied to the bird and foreground.
Added a Curves layer and lightened just the bird again.
Added an additional brightness clipping layer for the bird
The leaves looked odd in the upper left so added a final layer to fix the edges with a colored brush.
Hope the file will download for you so you can see all the changes.
Jim


(Download)

Photoshop Screen Shot
Photoshop Screen Shot...
(Download)

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Nov 2, 2018 07:54:27   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Jim-Pops wrote:
This one is a bit different. Everyone goes about it differently with their edits...
Jim, I opened the dng and fled the room screaming You are da man

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Nov 2, 2018 08:10:11   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Jim, I opened the dng and fled the room screaming You are da man


I understand Linda, I just about did the same thing. If I used the whole picture not cropped I probably would have. I cropped as the OP did on his picture to make it somewhat manageable.

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Nov 2, 2018 09:40:48   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Jim,
Thank you so much. I appreciate what must have been a time consuming project. Just reading your post I learned a lot; never had considered using HDR to merge "self made" exposure variations. Do you have any suggestions for on line PS courses? I have used PS a fair amount and have developed a work flow but it is from information picked up from many sources. I have never learned PS from "A to Z". Not every tool (that would be virtually impossible I assume), but rather not only the "hows" but also the "whys" to use certain procedures.
Also, you mentioned a Dropbox link??
My interest is tropical bird photography and many, if not most, of these birds live in the mid to upper reaches of the forest canopy so this scenario is very common.
Again, many thanks for your time and expertise.

Jim B

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Nov 2, 2018 09:43:41   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Jim, I opened the dng and fled the room screaming You are da man


Linda,
Thank you for your time. My primary interest in photography is tropical birds. Unfortunately many of them prefer the upper and mid canopy of the forest so I am constantly fighting the need to point the camera lens up. When I shoot "up" this type of picture is all too common. Many of these birds, like the one in the photo do not come to feeders, so it is difficult to set up a controlled scenario. I take what I can get.

Jim

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Nov 2, 2018 10:04:23   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
bajadreamer,

Jim B
First if you or anyone else goes to the dropbox link I gave you, you will find the photoshop file that you should be able to download with all layers giving you more insight into how it was done. By clicking on and off the layers you will see just how each layer effected the image.

I tried to learn Photoshop by buying books. It was just not working and I'm not sure why. I finally got to understand what I needed to know by watching YouTube videos. Example would be on you picture you want to learn more about cloning tool. Enter YouTube and type Photoshop clone tool and you should see several people explaining how and when to use the tools. You will find different ways people go about fixing photos and you then try to use the information on YOUR picture. All of a sudden it starts to make more since with practical applications. When you work on one of your own pictures and you can't figure out something like the curves go to YouTube and type Photoshop Curves and usually something will come up. The most important thing to learn is layers and masks. Phlearn is a good source to watch. I am 72 years old and started to learn the depths of Photoshop 5 years ago and just now do I feel I'm maybe just above average. Still now everyday I spend at least 30 minutes watching YouTub and trying to learn a new technique.
Jim

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Nov 2, 2018 10:24:00   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Jim-Pops wrote:
bajadreamer,

Jim B
First if you or anyone else goes to the dropbox link I gave you, you will find the photoshop file that you should be able to download with all layers giving you more insight into how it was done. By clicking on and off the layers you will see just how each layer effected the image.

I tried to learn Photoshop by buying books. It was just not working and I'm not sure why. I finally got to understand what I needed to know by watching YouTube videos. Example would be on you picture you want to learn more about cloning tool. Enter YouTube and type Photoshop clone tool and you should see several people explaining how and when to use the tools. You will find different ways people go about fixing photos and you then try to use the information on YOUR picture. All of a sudden it starts to make more since with practical applications. When you work on one of your own pictures and you can't figure out something like the curves go to YouTube and type Photoshop Curves and usually something will come up. The most important thing to learn is layers and masks. Phlearn is a good source to watch. I am 72 years old and started to learn the depths of Photoshop 5 years ago and just now do I feel I'm maybe just above average. Still now everyday I spend at least 30 minutes watching YouTub and trying to learn a new technique.
Jim
bajadreamer, br br Jim B br First if you or anyon... (show quote)


Thanks-good info.
I see you are from Granbury. We are coming to McAllen/Mission this January. Maybe can meet for coffee??
Also, I do not see the Dropbox link. I would love to see your workflow.

Jim B

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Nov 2, 2018 12:03:55   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
bajadreamer wrote:
Thanks-good info.
I see you are from Granbury. We are coming to McAllen/Mission this January. Maybe can meet for coffee??
Also, I do not see the Dropbox link. I would love to see your workflow.

Jim B


Sorry,

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eh4o0kni46rdues/Tanager_Guango_HDR%26Edits.psd?dl=0

Jim

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