need help post proc. portrait

[reemas]

this is an image of a grandma and granddaughter in china. how can i adjust it in photoshop so the background isnt so white.

im slightly new to photoshop, so if u could post the changes it would be nice.

would also be nice to see your attempt in post processing this photo.

thanks!

[SwitchStance]

Well I gave it a shot. I'm no photoshop master by any means... I used the quick mask mode to select just the background, then added an Levels adjustment layer, then I fiddled with the levels to get it to this point. There is probably a better way to do it. (and maybe easier) The trick is getting the selection just right.

Josh

[Nabil-A]

Adjusted Highlights in pc cs to bring out the bright water on the left of photo.. top middle water is blown and detail in this section of the photo is unrecoverable..

the only way id fix this is to clone some of the water detail in the left of the photo to the middle of the top of photo and then blend it in to match the water on left.

here is my attempt minus any cloning.

[Nabil-A]

you could also try a new layer with blue paintbucket and the blend it in for the wate to make it take on more of a blue tint.

[Nabil-A]

mickle that water job looks aweful...and the colour tone on the old lady face is less than attractive.

its a fine balance to get the results wanted but not overdue it so the original image quality is comprimised.

[Nabil-A]

Reemas, me things,

extracting the image from the water and pasting it onto a seperate photo with water that is exposed correctly would be the best way of solving your problem.

careful extracting will yeild good results around the subjects hair.

[mickle]

mickle that water job looks aweful...and the colour tone on the old lady face is less than attractive.

its a fine balance to get the results wanted but not overdue it so the original image quality is comprimised.

Yes, I quite aree....

[Titus213]

I found a process at The Luminous Landscape that seemed to work quite well I think. I've reposted the picture. I didn't spend a lot of time actually working the picture especially around the elders shoulder but it just requires a smaller tool and more magnification. The instruction link is here:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml

I used adjusted copies of the same photo rather than two different photos. The area above the elders head is just blown out I'm afraid.

[NEC1236]

How about changing the background altogether?

[Titus213]

Duh, why didn't I think of that. Not enough work I guess. I like that. Simple, direct, effective.

[Dante King]

here is my attempt

[NEC1236]

OK how about -- a little cloning, a little color, and some re-lighting

[reemas]

wow. wow. how did you replace the entire background so nicely? and how did you get the water everywhere. im amazed!!!

[Nabil-A]

wow. wow. how did you replace the entire background so nicely? and how did you get the water everywhere. im amazed!!!
its called cloning or copying and pasting the and blending

take a close look at Dante Kings pic. you can see flaws, vertical seperation lines

[NEC1236]

This is a picture in a picture
HiKey and LoKey
Localized
pushed the Hikey (sky)
Pulled the Lowkey (fore ground)
I could have bracketed and merged
but the info was there. So, I localized the hot and cold in PS
and here is the end product
real post production work
alot of masking and a lot of time.

[NEC1236]

Reemas - If you have photoshop you can mask the area that you want to change. Then you can paste any image or color into that area. on the image that I changed out completely, I added 20% cyan and then used a airbrush to paint in clouds. On the image I used the water and cloned areas that had detail into areas that did not, then added cyan color to the water, while multiplying the layer. I have been doing this for 20 plus years so practice makes prefect, or at least improved. Having a HiRes image and a lot of time and patience, helps. Good Luck.

[RichardtheSane]

To be honest I don't think the background is important.

you've captured a tender moment there. This is my take on the shot

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/gens.jpg

[reemas]

wow. im very thankful for all the help and replies. it was my favorite shot of the trip. its amazing to me, to see her grandmother resting on her in that pose. (it wasn't posed though).

thanks a lot!!