Need some advice on how to retouch this photo

[dtrayers]

I need some advice in how to go about retouching this image. It's from a shoot I did over the weekend. As you can see, I'm using a gelled backlight, but I had intended to turn it off for these audition shots. The dancer's foot is caught in the backdrop light and is mostly blown out. I have other shots of this dancer where the foot is ok or without the backlight, but the mom doesn't like one thing or another about them. She likes this one, but not with the bright foot.

So, any advice for a method to darken the foot? I've played with masks, burning, desaturating; but they don't look very convincing.

You should be able to click on the image to get a higher resolution version. Thanks.


http://www.trayersphotography.com/share/photos/img_5D07109_1.jpg (http://www.trayersphotography.com/share/photos/img_5D07109.jpg)

[Billbo911]

I need some advice in how to go about retouching this image. It's from a shoot I did over the weekend. As you can see, I'm using a gelled backlight, but I had intended to turn it off for these audition shots. The dancer's foot is caught in the backdrop light and is mostly blown out. I have other shots of this dancer where the foot is ok or without the backlight, but the mom doesn't like one thing or another about them. She likes this one, but not with the bright foot.

So, any advice for a method to darken the foot? I've played with masks, burning, desaturating; but they don't look very convincing.

You should be able to click on the image to get a higher resolution version. Thanks.


http://www.trayersphotography.com/share/photos/img_5D07109_1.jpg (http://www.trayersphotography.com/share/photos/img_5D07109.jpg)

How's this? All I did was to use the Magic Laso and carefully select the blown out part. I the carefully adjusted the Brightness and Contrast to "try" to match the rest of her foot. It isn't perfect, but it's close.:)

[BillMarks]

You could also try taking part of that foot from one of the images where you had turned out that light--assuming it is in about the same orientation/pose as this one. Then paste it as a layer on this image and place it over the glowing foot.

[akhoopes]

nice picture i would like to know what you used to center the colored gel on the back round could you explain this please thanks so much

[Shutter22]

Darkened the background, added in the bit that was missing, and selectively colored it(badly).

[dtrayers]

Thanks for the help folks... I didn't think to try the contrast/brightness tool. I think the hard part is getting the selection right.

Using a foot from another image might work, it's just blending the two so the tone is the same.

Bill, I used a strobe on a short lightstand to the left (it's behind the reflector). It has a 20-deg honeycomb and barn doors. I held the gel in place with magnets. I powered it way down; it's about 3.5 stops less than the main.

You can see a sample of the portraits here where I wanted the backlight:

http://www.trayersphotography.com/share/b-m_nut_port

[goforphoto]

Edit looks good. How about a conversion? Or just dropping the curves slightly.