2 dark 2 cool. (saving an underexsposed shot)

[Usuqa]

In this post ill describe the steps i took to help fix a photo i really liked but was really underexsposed (flash was still charging when i shot so didn't fire at the right power.)


Before:
liambike-small-dark.jpg


After:



Using light room.

1: The first thing i did because it was under exposed was to play around with the exposure settings, i felt that + 3ev was a good place to start from and then adjusted the contrast to +75 as i felt this made the lighting/shadows look a bit more dramatic.

2:Because the background was a little lighter than i wanted, i then took an adjustment brush with a -3 ev , and started to draw around the subject (being my nephew). I then decided to use -100 contrast -100 saturation -47 clarity on the brush to (I just looked at the photo while moving them to see what i liked).

Using photoshop.

1: Because i hated the reflection of the brolly on his shades i decided to use the blur tool at 100% to try blur it, but that didnt seem to work that well, so i then also duplicated the layer and applied a lens blur (again just played with the sliders till i got the kinda hazy white reflection i wanted).
2: Now that i had my duplicated blurry layer with the look i wanted for the lens highlight i then used the masking tool to remove the rest of the image so that i just had the blurry lens.
3: I then copy/pasted the lens and used free transform to shape it over the left lens on the glass's (as they were pure black) and shaped it then masked parts of it off to shape it some more and blended it using Lighten at around 20%.


This is my first time writing something like this i think (could be wrong as my memory is quite bad), i hope it helps anyone in anyway and thanks for looking/reading.

*note* yes i know the image has some noise that i could help reduce with more post possessing but im more than happy with how it looks

[Joey the girl]

Good job! I, too, am always trying to get the reflections out of people's sunglasses (pretty close to the same way you do it). They can be so very distracting!
He looks like a tough little kid. Very cute!

[Usuqa]

thanks for your kind reply

i showed one of my friends the photo and he things i should try and terminator him haha.

[Mike_N]

You did a very nice job. Thanks for explaining how you saved the shot. I too have a few that are under developed. I am going to try what you said to see if I can correct them.

I am working on putting the cash together to get PS7. Almost have my wife convinced that I need it :-)

[daddyoproductions]

I looooove this...would love to do one with my nephew/godson (we only have girls around here, no boy toys)

[Narclax]

The adjustment brush in LR is one of my favorite things. Being so new to a DSLR camera I am constantly under/over exposing stuff as I go along.
Definitely a great job rescuing the photo. I love that little bit of light in the bottom right corner. With the change in contrast due to that light it gives the photo a 3d feel(also due to the great dof).

[Usuqa]

thanks Narclax

[lej]

Craaaaaaazy babyy!!
also good editing

[blsweeney]

love what you did, what a difference! And the subject is adorable!