Bounced Lighting

[caniac23]

What do you guys suggest (or where can you point me in the right direction) for working on bad bounced lighting in Photoshop?? I took some pics at a friends wedding, and the outside pics looked nice, but then we moved into a small hall at nightfall, with decent lighting, and I had to use my cameras flash to get any decent photo whatsoever. I'm not a professional, and I don't have professional equipment. I don't have a speed light, a diffuser, a fast lens... just a 55-200mm Nikkor and a 18-55mm Nikkor lens. I've been trying to mess around with Levels and Curves, and it's just not looking right... I'm just starting to get into photography, as a hobby, strictly a hobby, and Photoshop. I've downloaded CS5 and using it as a trial..

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I also realize that the shot itself should look good before post production, but again, all I had. I'm not expecting miracles, but maybe there's something or someone with a little more experience in this area and may have ideas. Thank you again.

After Levels


Before Levels

[theosus]

I was trying to do the same thing you were - take pictures in a room just dark enough I needed the flash, but the flash was so overpowering it made the picture look bad. My trick?
Hold a stand #10 envelope in front of the flash at an up angle, so whatever light didnt make it through the paper would be reflected up towards the ceiling. I made it bright enough I could take the picture, but no harsh shadows.



Although it would look silly at a wedding, it might be the trick you're looking for when you're around the house....
Im not a pro either, and I dont have any fancy stuff. Sorry I cant help with photoshop. It looks like you're on the right track. Maybe edit the background as a layer... and then edit the couple seperately?

[zona5101]

Your levels adjustment certainly helped. I like the punchier contrast in the after shots. As far as eliminating the effect of direct flash (harsh shadow, specular highlights), that would be hard. For the amount of work needed I don't think it worthwhile considering your after shots appear good even with the direct flash. If you wanted to try, you would need to make a selection of just the shadow areas and put it on another layer then adjust exposure. Even as I am typing this I am thinking of all the complexity of getting no edge effect between the area that was shadow and the remainder of the pic... for the specular highlight, a burn brush. Really, I'd adjust the levels and call it good.

[scootermcq]

This site might help you out with your flash photography & bouncing....

He is kinda a demi god when it comes to this....

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-pho...looking-flash/

[edbayani]

you can, after levels adjustment remove the shadows either by selecting the shadow part and moving the selection to the area beside it and copy it to another layer and move it back to the area of the shadow to cover it. use layer mask for fine tuning, levels to adjust the density to make it the same as the surrounding area. an easier way is by cloning the wall to remove the shadows. copy the upper portion of the frame and flip it vertically and align it with the frame to make it whole.

[RecurrentNerve]

Nice work edbayani.

OP, try making a diffuser yourself. Anything semi-transparent will do. I used a plastic milk bottle, cutting a piece into a T-shape. I stick it in place in front of the flash with poster tack. Not brilliant, but better than nothing and cheap! You can also use baking parchment or tracing paper.

[pulse64]

Originally Posted by edbayani

you can, after levels adjustment remove the shadows either by selecting the shadow part and moving the selection to the area beside it and copy it to another layer and move it back to the area of the shadow to cover it. use layer mask for fine tuning, levels to adjust the density to make it the same as the surrounding area. an easier way is by cloning the wall to remove the shadows. copy the upper portion of the frame and flip it vertically and align it with the frame to make it whole.

Well done I have a lot of pictures like this I'm going to practise your technique tonight!

[caniac23]

Great suggestions guys. Thanks. Edbayani, nice work removing the shadows themselves, although you did take away the black speaker that was set up near the DJ's table.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by edbayani

you can, after levels adjustment remove the shadows either by selecting the shadow part and moving the selection to the area beside it and copy it to another layer and move it back to the area of the shadow to cover it. use layer mask for fine tuning, levels to adjust the density to make it the same as the surrounding area. an easier way is by cloning the wall to remove the shadows. copy the upper portion of the frame and flip it vertically and align it with the frame to make it whole.

another example of your knowledge and skills! I am always impressed. Thanks for the schoolin'.

[edbayani]

bruce, carniac, pulse, RN, thank you for th nice comments and very glad to be of help.
carniac, sorry for having removed the speaker. i thought it was a shadow also.