Beginning More Intensive Processing In LR3

[Hill Country Hack]

I've been using LR3 for about six months now. I've limited myself to basic exposure, color saturation, tone curves, contrast etc. I now want to be able to do more intensive editing. I have the Kelby book on LR, but it only goes so far.

The posted picture was taken at the Austin Tx airport in the afternoon. My goal was to selectively decrease the exposure in the BG to help make the subject pop a bit more. I used the adjustment brush, set the exposure and brightness back a bit and painted the entire BG. I continued to then adjust the slider darker to try and get what I wanted. I then completed a second go over. I am somewhat satisfied with the results with the exception of the gutiar neck in the BG. It is way overcooked.

Was my technique on the right track and just heavy handed, or is there a better way to do this using LR3? The good thing about LR, I can hit the reset button and start all over.

[Doug Sundseth]

I'm seeing a little bit of haloing (which is pretty hard to avoid in LR), but only because you asked about technique, so I looked. The result you got is pretty good.

That said, this is the sort of adjustment that I find easier in Photoshop. Select the subject, jump it to its own layer, add adjustment layers to desaturate and reduce the exposure on the background, done.

[Hill Country Hack]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

I'm seeing a little bit of haloing (which is pretty hard to avoid in LR), but only because you asked about technique, so I looked. The result you got is pretty good.

That said, this is the sort of adjustment that I find easier in Photoshop. Select the subject, jump it to its own layer, add adjustment layers to desaturate and reduce the exposure on the background, done.

Thanks Doug. One of these days I may break down and get PSE. I think I'll give it another try later and repost.

It's strange. Someone on flickr grabbed this and put in one of their galleries. I was/am suspicious so I went to check out the gallery. It is not where the link directed me. I'll check again later.

[Hill Country Hack]

Here is the newer version. A bit better, but still with haloing around the guitar neck in the BG.