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[OM] Re: MFT meet in Brugges, Belgium report (longisch)

Subject: [OM] Re: MFT meet in Brugges, Belgium report (longisch)
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 17:10:48 -0700
Wiliam Wagenaar wrote:
> Thanks for your heads up on this issue, Moose.
>
> I expect that you used the photos on wanadoo as basis for your work?
> These were not improved in any way. The ones on Myfourthirds are
> however. 

> You improved my photos quite a bit and I think quite a bit more
> than I could with my little knowledge of PS (I use version 7). I enjoyed
> your improved photos quite a lot Could you please enlighten me as to
> what improvements you made? 
I didn't keep careful track of what I did, although I think I can pretty 
much remember 
<http://www.moosemystic.net/Gallery/Others/Wagenaar_Brugges/index.htm>.

I'm using PSCS, which has one important tool added since 7 that I used 
on some of these, ShadowHighlight (SHi). I have a number of things that 
I commonly do set in actions. For example, for local contrast 
enhancement (LCE), the action creates a duplicate layer and applies 
Unsharp Mask to it with settings 20%, 50 pixels, 0 threshold. I can then 
simply adjust the opacity of the new layer to fine tune the effect. So 
much faster  than going back and forth using different USM settings to 
find the right amount.

LCE seems to compensate for an effect common in almost all digitally 
derived images I've worked on, whether from camera or scanner, where 
local brightness transitions at edges aren't abrupt enough, giving a 
soft, fuzzy feeling to them. Most images seem to be improved by about 
the amount I have set standard. A very few look better with none and a 
fair number can use a partial second dose. with some images, LCE is like 
removing a veil to reveal the image underneath. Other people use 
different settings.

717 - Just a little LCE and SHi.

758 - Select sky and make separate layer, darken slightly. LCE, SHi and 
curves on the rest, some dodging on the face.

764 & 767 - Select highlights to separate layer, darken slightly. LCE, 
SHi and curves on the rest. 764 is improved, 767 is a huge improvement.

774 - The histogram for this one was very low, with almost everything 
below 60% or so. Black portion at the bottom and the frame around all 
these display images must be ignored to see the histograms properly. I 
selected them as a separate layer and turned it off while working. 
Levels to set the white point and spread out the histogram and a little 
SHi to bring up the dark doors and windows.

777 - I should say that this isn't bad to me as is, as a way of setting 
mood, but I like the adjusted version too. Another shot with no tonal 
values much above the midpoint of the histogram. Levels to set the white 
point, LCE and curves to add some contrast. SHi to bring up the iron 
grating and some detail in the dark clothes and to bring down brightness 
in the upper right from the other adjustments. This is one of my 
favorites, very strong subject and composition. Although the adjustments 
brighten it, the way they bring up the rough texture in the wall and 
sidewalk and make the iron grating and its opening more visible and 
strengthen the contrast of the vulnerable looking girl to her situation.

783 -  Building simply underexposed. Select sky and make separate layer, 
darken slightly. LCE, levels and curves on the rest.

789 - This is a classic example of why SHi is such a valuable tool. For 
a shot like this, it's like magic. I think that's all I used.

795 - I gave into temptation here. The reflections make this shot and I 
thought they could be stronger. I made a dup layer, brightened it with 
curves or something, then selected and deleted most of it and cleaned up 
around the edges with eraser.
> I used the same photos on both sites, so would you be so kind to tell me if 
> the ones on MFT could be improved further? 
They are improved over the ones straight out of the camera, but yes, 
they can be improved.

I'll get to that soon.

Moose

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