Post Processing Help (CS5)

[Michelle13]

Is anyone willing to help me out with post processing this image of my three girls at sunset?

I'd love to keep the color in the sky but I realize my girls and the sand are underexposed. When I try to fix exposure in PS by masking back the changes, it's very difficult to brush them on/off around my girls' heads/bodies, etc. I've tried using the Magic Wand and Quick Selection tools...but can't seem to get it to look good.

Any help, tricks and/or tips would be greatly appreciated!!! DSC_4670CM by Michelle930, on Flickr

[zona5101]

I do not believe you will get usable detail no matter the technique. It looks good as a silhouette. Perhaps a less centered crop and little more saturation in the sky and call it good.

[Tito87]

Why don't you try the Pen Tool. See if you can get a better selection. However I'd recommend that you re-shoot, as the girls are way underexposed.

[Michelle13]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I do not believe you will get usable detail no matter the technique. It looks good as a silhouette. Perhaps a less centered crop and little more saturation in the sky and call it good.

Why won't I get "usable detail"...because it's underexposed?

What technique tool do you recommend for getting more saturation in the sky? And how do you deal with the edges around the subjects - getting close enough so it's "seamless"? I struggle with this...

Thanks!

[Michelle13]

Originally Posted by Tito87

Why don't you try the Pen Tool. See if you can get a better selection. However I'd recommend that you re-shoot, as the girls are way underexposed.

Your comment kind of made me feel bad...I really like this photo of my girls...

Can you give me some pointers on how to take sunset pictures of my girls - how to get good exposure on them and not lose color in the sky?

Also, is the Pen tool in Photoshop? I'm not familiar with it...

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by Michelle13

Your comment kind of made me feel bad...I really like this photo of my girls...

Can you give me some pointers on how to take sunset pictures of my girls - how to get good exposure on them and not lose color in the sky?

Also, is the Pen tool in Photoshop? I'm not familiar with it...

He didn't mean it in a bad way. In the scene you were working in, it would be very hard to do what you wanted to do without using a flash or some other type of lighting. If you had exposed to get the girls, you would have a blown out sky.
I think it looks quite nice now. I would go with Zona's suggestion and go with a less centered crop. Also for starters, to get more saturation, try making a duplicate layer and changing the blend mode to soft light. If you aren't familiar with layers, you may want to start with a simple levels, or curves adjustment. This may give you more of what you are looking for.
Check this thread out for starters. It should get you going.
Levels: Getting the Professional 'Pop'

[Michelle13]

Originally Posted by RLucas

He didn't mean it in a bad way. In the scene you were working in, it would be very hard to do what you wanted to do without using a flash or some other type of lighting. If you had exposed to get the girls, you would have a blown out sky.
I think it looks quite nice now. I would go with Zona's suggestion and go with a less centered crop. Also for starters, to get more saturation, try making a duplicate layer and changing the blend mode to soft light. If you aren't familiar with layers, you may want to start with a simple levels, or curves adjustment. This may give you more of what you are looking for.
Check this thread out for starters. It should get you going.
Levels: Getting the Professional 'Pop'

Thank you SOOO much...this was a VERY helpful response to my thread. I really appreciate it. I am familiar with layers and will definitely try the soft light blend mode!

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Michelle13

Why won't I get "usable detail"...because it's underexposed?

What technique tool do you recommend for getting more saturation in the sky? And how do you deal with the edges around the subjects - getting close enough so it's "seamless"? I struggle with this...

Thanks!

Saturation in the sky...easiest is a increase in the vibrance or saturation sliders. You also get an increase in apparent saturation from your curves adjustment, slightly increasing your black point. Increasing the black point will push the girls farther into silhouette as well.

[Tito87]

Originally Posted by Michelle13

Your comment kind of made me feel bad...I really like this photo of my girls...

Can you give me some pointers on how to take sunset pictures of my girls - how to get good exposure on them and not lose color in the sky?

Also, is the Pen tool in Photoshop? I'm not familiar with it...

I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, as RLucas said, I didn't mean that. I just wanted to let you know that in situations like that, if you don't use a flash or reflector, you'll need to compromise--either, you get a nice sky and underexposed girls, or you get nice girls and a blown out sky, as the previous posters have explained a lot better than I can: I really need to find my way with words. But, as it was commented above, this shot could make for a nice silhouette. Yes, the Pen Tool is in Photoshop. The shortcut is the letter P. Click here:Become a Master of the Pen Tool in Under 30 Minutes | PSDFan
Let me apologize again. I never meant to hurt your feelings.

[Michelle13]

Originally Posted by Tito87

I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, as RLucas said, I didn't mean that. I just wanted to let you know that in situations like that, if you don't use a flash or reflector, you'll need to compromise--either, you get a nice sky and underexposed girls, or you get nice girls and a blown out sky, as the previous posters have explained a lot better than I can: I really need to find my way with words. But, as it was commented above, this shot could make for a nice silhouette. Yes, the Pen Tool is in Photoshop. The shortcut is the letter P. Click here:Become a Master of the Pen Tool in Under 30 Minutes | PSDFan
Let me apologize again. I never meant to hurt your feelings.

Thank you so much for clarifying...and I didn't mean to get so sensitive. This post was very helpful - thanks for the link, I'm going to look into the Pen Tool!