How does this look ???

[Edd]

Finally after a few months of reading about post processing and some limited practise (I need to do much more) I think I may be starting to get the hang of it But I'll let you be the judge of that for me.

The images below show the original shot and the post processed shot, if you could let me know what you really think I would be greatful. Again any tips greatfully received.

This was done in Elements 6 and the original image showed clipping on the left hand side of the histogram. I adjusted with Levels and some Brightness/Contrast and ended with sharpening via USM.

Thanks for looking.

Original




Post Processed.



Ed

[peter nap]

I'll give my very uneducated opinion Ed.
First, I guess I don't know what clipping is because I don't see anything wrong with the first picture.

The second picture is just better. The colors are deeper and richer, the background more uniform and it almost has a 3D appearance.

I guess the bottom line would be..You took a picture I consider good and made it better.

[bob_r]

Ed,

The results look good. I don't know if Elements has a "Curves" option, but that's probably what I would have tried adjusting first in PS.
If Elements has it, you might give it a try. I don't know if it would improve on your results, but it might allow you a different path to arrive at a similar result.

[Edd]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments.

Pete - clipping is when the parts of the image are to bright or dark to fit onto the Histogram, and therefore outside the range of the sensor (I think). These pixels are lost and therefore the detail is also lost (or something along those lines).

Bob - There is a very watered down version of curves in elements 6, haven't really had too much to do with curves as yet. I did give it a quick try but it didn't really seem to do anything for the image. Would you subsitute curves for levels or use a conbination of the two???

Ed

[bob_r]

Bob - There is a very watered down version of curves in elements 6, haven't really had too much to do with curves as yet. I did give it a quick try but it didn't really seem to do anything for the image. Would you subsitute curves for levels or use a conbination of the two???

Ed

Ed,

I nearly always adjust levels whether I use curves or not. I normally use curves when most of the image looks right, but either my highlights are too bright or my shadows are too dark. Of course, there are times when you can't recover the detail in those areas, but curves is a good tool for allowing you to try. I normally adjust levels after trying to recover detail with curves.

[Edd]

Okay Bob I get you.

I have just seen Otters post along with your reply.

The curves I have is really just a bunch of presets, ie Darken Highlights, Adjust Midtones etc with a slider for the relevant colour range your looking to adjust, nothing as comprehensive as you have.

I'll have to save my pennies for quite a while as I have other items on my wish list above the editing software at the moment.

I was really pleased with the result, best I have managed to date !!!!

Ed

[aprillove20]

hi Ed,

i appreciate your effort while your trying to make the picture great.

that was fine Ed, you will learned more as you keep on doing it.