PP - Show us your greatest saves

[kenn3d]

Hi all,

Our main Sharing forum (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=91) often veers off into various aspects of Post-Processing, and I think many of us have a pretty keen interest in both optimizing our photographic results and improving our skills at this.

Here I would propose that we share not just our best shots or compositions, but also our best efforts, techniques, and critiques regarding PP. We have all taken those "oh so close" shots that fell short in some way, and that we'd love to save rather than toss.

So, show us your "greatest save", and tell what you did in post to make it a keeper. Preferrably with before and after images.
Or, post your problem pic here, and see what others can suggest to help you save it from the ether bin.

Kenn

[kenn3d]

Ok sure, I should've volunteered to go first. ;)

So here's one I just did this morning...
The original shot was way underexposed and not framed well, but I really liked the pose(s) of the Jays:
http://kenn3d.smugmug.com/photos/400723350_t45YZ-L.jpg

Cropped to remove extraneous flora on the right side.
Major Level adjust to improve exposure.
15% increase of Saturation
Extend canvas by 100 pixels on the left side, and clone/paint in missing space. (This was time-consuming to reconstruct left Jay's tail-end, and try for believable extension of rail and background.)
Reduce noise (rather extreme) using customized Neat Image settings.
USM (also more extreme than I normally would use) .0/1.0/110 in Lab/Lightness Channel.
Minor retouch to feather detail (head and eyes) to soften USM artefacts.
Resize to 1/3.
http://kenn3d.smugmug.com/photos/400723367_H6stX-L.jpg

Maybe it's not my "greatest save", and all in all more work than I'd usually do...
But this shot was headed for the trash, and I'm happier now to have saved it.

Ok, who's next? :)

Kenn

[Colyn]

This was really well done.

[Colyn]

This was really well done.

[Colyn]

This was really well done.

[Colyn]

This was really well done.