Help with family photo.

[golfputting]

Family photo from the top of Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque NM. This was from our family trip to NM in June. I need help getting the lighting better without washing out the image. Any tips would be great.

Thanks,

[SeJun]

try this tutorial in the tutorial section... it is a simple and a quick way to correct your photos, explained well by LeeR..

Levels: Getting the Professional 'Pop'

[CShuler]

I did 3 adjustments and think it helped a lot. Since I'm new to this forum, not sure of the image posting rules, so did not post the adjusted image. First, I used levels to correct the color balance (not sure I could easily explain the process). Then I used a curves adjustment, used the "lighter" preset then changed the blend mode to "luminosity". Then made a copy of the background, kept it below the levels and curves adjustment layers. Used the Shadow/Highlight adjustment, set Shadow to 25% and Highlight to 25%, but use whatever you think looks best. Didn't like the color of the sky, so went back to the Levels layer and masked out the sky and background bushes and trees. Only other thing I would do is either burn down or clone out the very green leaves on the bottom right.

Hope this helps.

[edbayani]

i would use the color range to select the sky, so as not to blow out the sky when adjusting the darker areas. then inverse the selection (shift, ctrl, I) to select the dark portions. levels and move the right slider where the histogram starts to rise. still on levels, click on the middle eye dropper and click on the gray portion of the rocks on the right to correct the color shift. exit levels. there is still a dark portion on the left which looks like a trail. double click on the quickmask icon on the tool box and check the selected areas color indication. with a soft brush, brush on the dark portion of the trail and grass. press Q to exit quickmask and with levels, lighten the dark portion. exit quickmask.

[Michael_2010]

You have a very good file to work with, because of size, resolution and sharpness. You should be able to do pretty much whatever you like to get the desired results.

[Ari77]

Hey, did a quick 60 sec edit for you. I use Aperture 3 for Mac - I find it really intuitive. Download a free trial if you are on a mac. I upped the exposure 1 stop added a curves adjustment (slight curve) did the levels as per the tutorial and cropped a little. Didn't do anything to the sky - later could select it and use the brush tools to recover it a bit. Take this with a big grain of salt though..... Really just learning myself too!
Good Luck - Ari

[golfputting]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the tips.

[JanetJean]

Don't be afraid to use your flash outside!

[jpel3500]

The Sandia Mountains are a great place to take pictures! You did a good job, and I hope you enjoyed your stay here. However brief. Grin.

JDPelfrey

[golfputting]

Yes we loved our visit to Albuquerque. The Sandia Mountains were beautiful and a great place for photos. I had to get someone to take that photo. I had my tripod with me but had left the head in my camera bag back at my truck. I was very upset when I saw the head missing on the tram ride up. :-(