I really like this shot....BUT!!!!!

[rward78]

From Mar 21, 2011

I really like this shot but I have horrible flair. Is there a possibility that it can be fixed using PP? I am learning how to PP so experience and know how are limited....any feedback on the possibility of it being fixed and/or how to would be greatly appreciated.

[Rentham]

The overall lack of contrast is an easy fix. You can increase the blacks (in LR for example) or use a set of curves. The actual flare on the one girl's head is more problematic. It can be done, but it isn't a once click fix. It would probably be a matter of using the clone or healing brush set to whatever blending mode worked for the particular area you are trying to fix.

[wulf]

First off, work on improving the contrast of the overall shot - as Rentham suggested, the curves tool is ideal.

You can then get 90% of the way towards fixing the flare by adding a further curves adjustment just to the flare circle. With the Gimp, I would create a copy of the layer and add a layer mask to make only that portion visible on the new layer (with Photoshop, I think the approach would be to create an adjustment layer, again with a mask). A second use of the curves tool will quickly get you to the point where the flare circle matches the tones of the rest of the image as closely as possible.

You would still need to finish off with cloning / healing to blend the adjustment in but it will be much quicker if the match is already very close.

Wulf