East Lancs Railway

[Rockfodder21]

Here's one I took this weekend, I'm hoping someone can suggest how to fix the blown out sky?

[RadAL]

a little more of an angle would be nice, IMO.

[Pugwash]

Here's one I took this weekend, I'm hoping someone can suggest how to fix the blown out sky?


Good shot.

If you shot in RAW you can convert twice. First conversion set exposure into minus until sky appears as you want it. Second conversion set the exposure for the train and foreground. Open both conversions in PS and drag darker sky picture into the other (keep SHIFT pressed so that sizes remain exact). Loosely lassoo around the sky area and feather at 150 - 200 pixels. Now go down to the "Add new layer mask" in the Layers Pallette and the train and foreground will show through at the exposure level of the second conversion with the sky remaining at the exposure level of the first.

You may need to experiment with the lassoo position and the feathering until you get the picture as desired. This is the RAW version of Exposure Bracketing but by taking one shot only. Alternative is to do Exposure Bracketing in the camera but that wouldn't work with a moving target.

If you didn't shoot in RAW then I guess you'll have to import a new sky which isn't really the picture you saw on the day.

[Rockfodder21]

Thanks very much Pugwash, I'll give it a try tomoz :D .

[PhotosGuy]

You can paint on the Layer Mask to make local changes:
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)

[kona77]

Hey Photosguy,
Back to the old avatar?

Onward we go, check out the link Photosguy posted. It is very good and will greatly improve some of your pics. It is worth the time.

[Rockfodder21]

Okay, I've gone with Photosguy for my 1st couple of attempts seems to have done a reasonable job on the sky considering.
Comments welcome.

[sm1rf]

Nice to see you went to RAW, you know it makes sense! :)

[nigelr07]

Good effort, I like the second of the two Rockfodder21, bit more drama in that sky, the blue in the first one looks a bit washed out to me.

Hey sm1rf, changed your avatar? New toy??

[Pugwash]

Photosguy - useful info on the painting of a layer mask by following your link - not tried that before - only the lassooing and then layer mask. Will give it a go in due course.

Rockfodder 21 - like nigelr07 I prefer the second of the two versions. Personally I would lower the exposure on the sky even more and see how it looks. Still at least you can now see some features in the sky which is what you were after.

[PhotosGuy]

Better! You'll find a lot of uses for those masks.

[Rockfodder21]

Thanks for all the advice and positive comments, yes your right that technique has a multitude of uses. :D :D :D .