Color contrast Problems

[epeyton@tampabay.rr.com]

I have taken several photo of this mother and child in different kinds of lighting but I can never seem to get the color right. Or if I get the color right the contrast is off. In this photo I used levels and curves post and this is one of the better ones but it still seems a bit flat to me, Any suggestions?

[taykuyphotoart]

I'll give it a shot, but may I request that you post the original, no post process?

[peeperita]

you have a more discerning eye than i do....cuz, i would be pleased with this.....

without taking your picture to ps on my own, about all i could suggest is to separate the family from the background, work some magic (shadows/highlight tool) on the apes..especially the shadows........duplicate the background beneath it and set the blending mode to multipy and keep it under the family....

if that still doesn't suit you, duplicate the apes layer and fiddle with the blending modes and opacity to hopefully fine tune the colors and lightness.....

good luck cuz, it's a wonderful shot....

peeper

[johanmw]

Maybe, and just maybe, you could try ortonizing the sorroundings a bit (not to much) så that the apes stays sharp, and that way, stands out.

[epeyton@tampabay.rr.com]

Originally Posted by taykuyphotoart

I'll give it a shot, but may I request that you post the original, no post process?

Here is the original

[odark30]

How is this? Muted the rock color a bit.1089698630_a91536f0f3.jpg

[epeyton@tampabay.rr.com]

Originally Posted by odark30

How is this? Muted the rock color a bit.Attachment 1711

This looks a lot better thank you.

[odark30]

Evelyn, I have another idea on your wildlife photos, IF you're using photoshop!
1.Covert to LAB mode
2. Make a curves adjustment layer (Alt/Option click the curve grid to make a finer grid detail)
3. Switch the channel to "A" Bring the top point left 2 squares, bottom point right 2 squares.
3. Repeat with the B channel
4. (optional) Flatten the image & change the mode back to RGB, DONE!