Help Needed With PP: So I got this shot in on an early foggy morn. Two things...in editing, why do I get these rings in the sky, and can someone with good PP/PS knowledge remove them...

busted_shutter

So I got this shot in on an early foggy morn. Two things...in editing, why do I get these rings in the sky, and can someone with good PP/PS knowledge remove them for me? Liking my reflections in the tracks, but the sky not so much. TIA.

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

The rings are a jpeg artefact. Do you have a RAW or an unedited jpg SOOC?

busted_shutter

No .raw copy, but here's the original

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

busted_shutter wrote:

No .raw copy, but here's the original

Thanks. That's a better starting point.

busted_shutter

:thumbup:

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The banding seemed strangely resistant to the usual treatments, but I think it's an improvement on the original. Lots of negative clarity and contrast applied to the worst areas plus lots of de-noise and negative sharpening. Perhaps the detailed stuff is too soft? I wasn't sure how foggy or dark you wanted it.

PS - I've just noticed how small the second file is. It would have been better SOOC or at least totally uncompressed. Now I know what caused the resistance to the treatments :-) .
-

(Download)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

busted_shutter wrote:

So I got this shot in on an early foggy morn. Two things...in editing, why do I get these rings in the sky, and can someone with good PP/PS knowledge remove them for me? Liking my reflections in the tracks, but the sky not so much. TIA.

Solution is simple... Use PNG...

JPG to PNG no edit.

(Download)

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Rongnongno wrote:

Solution is simple... Use PNG...

Yes, the solution is simple, but not what you suggested.

The problem with editing an 8-bit file, whether it is JPEG, PNG or TIFF, is that changes to contrast, brightness, gradient, etc., are likely to produce banding or posterization.

See http://neilvn.com/tangents/post-processing-workflow-deal-color-banding-photographs/

To avoid the problem (assuming you don't have the original raw file), convert the file from JPEG to 16-bit TIFF before you start editing. You can then make all of these changes without the risk of banding. When you are satisfied with the result you can save the image as JPEG, PNG or 8-bit TIFF to save space.

busted_shutter

Thanks all. Really need to get more knowledge and practice with pp. Currently use my phone when not near the computer. Probably the reason for the compression.

rborud Loc: Minnesota

busted_shutter wrote:

So I got this shot in on an early foggy morn. Two things...in editing, why do I get these rings in the sky, and can someone with good PP/PS knowledge remove them for me? Liking my reflections in the tracks, but the sky not so much. TIA.

Busted
Here is my try
RBorud

(Download)

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Busted_shutter, this scene would have a lot of potential if you shot raw. I do not have the time to work it up but I think you could have worked wonders with the tracks. I urge you to consider shooting raw. You will be amazed about how much more detail and tonal range it has compared with jpg. You can work wonders with shots you think are lost. And remember this dirty little secret about raw's: they are no harder to "develop" than jpg's. In fact, they are easier. The hardest thing about raw's is to buy and learn Lightroom if you have do done so already.

Good luck and keep shooting.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

selmslie wrote:

Yes, the solution is simple, but not what you sugg... (show quote)

While my first thought was banding due to the limitations of processing gradients in 8-bit image files, I don't think converting from 8-bit to 16-bit during (or just prior to) processing will help much. Better to have the extra data from the raw image for a smoother gradient.

Also, increasing the contrast (with a curves or other adjustment) during processing in gradient areas such as the sky in the op's image seems to increase the chance of banding even with a 16-bit file.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I don't see rings but a glowing ball which could be the sun fighting to shine thru. Any attempt to add bit depth must be done in some image editor software and the added bits will arise from some programed algorithm, like bicubic as in Photoshop. One often finds that sharp edges become diffuse.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Rick36203 wrote:

....I don't think converting from 8-bit to 16-bit during (or just prior to) processing will help much.......

According to Rongnongno's post above, just converting to PNG gets rid of most of the banding. Even if that does involve a jump from 8 bit to 12 bit or higher, I don't see how it could affect the data (in particular the smoothness) of the original image. Can somebody explain that to me?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

R.G. wrote:

According to Rongnongno's post above, just converting to PNG gets rid of most of the banding. Even if that does involve a jump from 8 bit to 12 bit or higher, I don't see how it could affect the data (in particular the smoothness) of the original image. Can somebody explain that to me?

It does not really eliminate it, it just subdues it.

Use a level and darken the image to see it.