See what you can do with this please..

[chopper5654]

Here is one for all of you to play with. Tough scene for me. I don't do layers/masks/HDR yet, and this would have been a good one. I would like to learn a little more about layers through GIMP. So, if anyone knows of some good tutorials, I am all ears.

Here is the photo. I forgot to switch over to RAW, so it may not be able to be saved. I was also too afraid to spot meter the statue fearing I would completely blow the background ice and snow. I have other shots of the same scene, but with different metering methods, and they all look about the same. This was about the most balanced exposure I got. Anyway, play away...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4264212116_99a7fd3416_b.jpg

[navydoc]

Here's my try. I seperated the statue, snow, bridge and sky on their own layer then adjusted each layer independently.
(I should have done a better job in selecting the sky around the light posts on the bridge but this was just to give you an idea on how to do this yourself.)

[chomish]

Well im no experrt, but heres my attempt.

[chopper5654]

good stuff you guys. do you have any references to start working in layers? so far, it seems a little intimidating. i'm sure it's not, but i have it in my head that it will take a long time just to grab the basics.

[chomish]

good stuff you guys. do you have any references to start working in layers? so far, it seems a little intimidating. i'm sure it's not, but i have it in my head that it will take a long time just to grab the basics.


Well i actually just used lightroom for my quick job. Just went over the underexposed and over exposed spots with the circle tool. Really easy and quick.

[navydoc]

I used photoshop for my example. Sorry, I don't have Gimp.

Have you tried Googling for layers tutorials using Gimp? Here's a link to some tuts that might be a help to you:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_en-GBUS356US356&q=layers+tutorial+gimp

[chopper5654]

i have looked through so many tuts that leave me confused as hell. other forum posters have noted the same feelings. i thought i'd just ask in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. ;)

[tonydee]

Easiest way to improve this in GIMP:
- In the Toolbox, click on the Fuzzy Select Tool
- in the bottom part of the toolbox window, change the threshold to around 35. Other settings I used are Antialiasing, and Select by Composite. Click on a dark part of the statue. This should select all the touching areas that are approximately as dark. Depending on exactly where you click, some of the bricks/plaques underneath may get selected. Click around until you find a dark enough spot that they're excluded, as brighting them may look too weird if the surrounding brick isn't brightened. Longer term, you can experiment with a lower threshold, and using multiple clicks with shift held to add to your selection more systematically.
- Back in the image's window, from the "Colours" menu choose "Curves...". Click on the black diagonal line roughly where the first grey grid lines insect, and drag upwards until the statue is as bright as you'd like it to be:

420268

Still, it's a good idea to learn some layer functions later too. The way the work is done may be identical (e.g. a Curves adjustment), but you end up isolating the affected area more permanently, so you know you can select the exact same area again and tweak it further if need be. Process:

1) Layer menu / Duplicate Layer
2) Layer / Transparency / Add Alpha Channel (this means keep track of the degree of transparency across the layer)
3) make a selection with the fuzzy select wand as discussed above
4) Select menu / Invert
5) Edit / Cut to leave the new layer with only the dark parts you want to work on
6) Select menu / None (so you're not working on a selection of transparency left from Cut)
6) Use Colours / Curves... and drag the same point up.

If you have a look in the Windows / Dockable Dialogs / Layers (easier to press Control-L), you can see your two layers. A great thing about layers is that you can choose how they are combined: have a play with the Opacity value, and the Modes. Knowing that layer Opacity can be used afterwards, you can afford to over-do it a little then ease back afterwards, which may be better than not doing enough and having to go back into Curves. Modes are really important: for example, you can say you want it to pick - at each pixel location - the brighter of the select layer whose mode you're adjusting and the layer beneath. Or the darker, or an average, or all sorts of other cool things.... Experimentation's a good way to get started, then check the maths some day. In fact, the Addition mode will add the layers, doubling the brightness values, and Screen will do some multiplicative or logarithmic function: both can brighten the statue without even using Curves, although Opacity will let you fade the result but not brighten it if it proves too subtle.

Cheers,
Tony

[chopper5654]

Hot damn, Tony, thanks! I appreciate the time that may have taken to type out so clearly.

[Darkwand]

My guess is that a flash lighting up the statue would have done marvels, but i guess that wasn't the question.

[chopper5654]

My guess is that a flash lighting up the statue would have done marvels, but i guess that wasn't the question.

i definitely thought about it, but i only have in-cam flash right now, and i was about 30 feet back. i didnt try because i just felt it wasnt going to help this time.

however, one of my favorite techniques is to use a longer exposure on a sunset-type scene and pop something in the foreground with flash. some of those turn out really cool.

[photonoob1]

i am real new to photography and photoshop but i figured i would give it a try myself and also something for me to learn on so here is my attempt. i lightned it in the histogram then tried using a gradient from upper right to lower left as if a hint of the sun was lighting the statue.also i took out the persons face and the hand rail in the lower left hand side. anyone feel free to grade me as well on my newbie photoshop skills,