can't seem to get it right

[janestudios]

Help! I took some pics of some friends at the beach. I could not avoid the light, but these pictures were taken at about 4:45pm (sunset here is 6:15). There was nothing I could do about the direct light. I had a hood on, but the shot is just... well... bad.

I tried all sorts of things, but as this was my first beach experience... who knows. Honestly, my point and shoot does a better job. I know I know, user error. Anyone can help??

It's not crisp, it's overexposed. It all bothers me, but the situation is a good one for advice on what could I have done to get really good outdoor shots at that time?

Canon 5D
50mm lens
1/500 sec
f 5.6
ISO 320 (that was part of the problem I am sure)

Bottom Line, is there anything that can be done to save this picture? I have CS2

[KodiakStar]

I'm not as good as some here are. But adjust curves to darken, duplicate layer, set to overlay, darken background with soft black color brush, lighten group using soft white color brush

[azn137]

here's my version

[kencaleno]

Just like this:

Boost color-

1. Ctrl+J
2. Image> adjustments> Match Color
Luminance 119
Color intensity 126
3. Flatten/save

Lighten shadows-

Image>adustments>shadow/highlights default

Sharpen Image

Ctrl+J
Unsharp mask amount 18%
Radius 40 pxls
Threshold 0
Unsharp mask amount 150%
Radius 0.3 pxls
Threshold 0
Edit> fade Unsharp mask 100% Darken
Unsharp mask amount 150%
Radius 0.3 pxls
Threshold 0
Edit> fade Unsharp mask 50% Lighten

[baldmountain]

Edited in Aperture. The surprising thing is I raised the exposure a little. I twiddled a LOT of knobs.

Taking pictures is all about controlling light. The sun is blasting the side of the family's faces making it almost impossible to take a good shot. The shot needs to be reframed.

[janestudios]

Originally Posted by KodiakStar

I'm not as good as some here are. But adjust curves to darken, duplicate layer, set to overlay, darken background with soft black color brush, lighten group using soft white color brush

using the brushes was a good technique I have not tried but will try now. Thanks!

[janestudios]

Originally Posted by baldmountain

Edited in Aperture. The surprising thing is I raised the exposure a little. I twiddled a LOT of knobs.

Taking pictures is all about controlling light. The sun is blasting the side of the family's faces making it almost impossible to take a good shot. The shot needs to be reframed.

good post, please explain "reframed" with a specific example??? In sunlight at the beach (when you want water in the background) where should I put them in relation to the sun?? Thanks for your help!

[janestudios]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Just like this:

Boost color-

1. Ctrl+J
2. Image> adjustments> Match Color
Luminance 119
Color intensity 126
3. Flatten/save

Lighten shadows-

Image>adustments>shadow/highlights default

Sharpen Image

Ctrl+J
Unsharp mask amount 18%
Radius 40 pxls
Threshold 0
Unsharp mask amount 150%
Radius 0.3 pxls
Threshold 0
Edit> fade Unsharp mask 100% Darken
Unsharp mask amount 150%
Radius 0.3 pxls
Threshold 0
Edit> fade Unsharp mask 50% Lighten

Ken, that was a good sample of how to fix it and thanks for the steps. It makes it easy to go back and practice with the original. I have read some of your posts to other people and you seem to have great technical knowledge, thank you!

[janestudios]

Originally Posted by azn137

here's my version

thank you!