can the gradient tool help this photo?

This was the only picture taken at this party; everyone was having so much fun that we forgot to take pictures. Obviously it's just riddled with problems but it seems to me that the worst is the exposure. I was wondering if the gradient tool in PS could help to even out the exposure somewhat but I'm not familiar with it; I mainly use PSE9 but I do have PS CS2, which has the gradient tool. I've messed with it some but everything I've been able to do just leaves the whole thing washed out.

Can someone tell me how to even out the exposure so this is a little more even? Then I can work with it and make it a little more presentable for the birthday girl.
Thanks

Aah...what have you tried?

I suggest applying a gamma gradient. While I haven't got PS, I have made my own 8bf filter

Here's a quick try. Does that come close to what you had in mind?

That is SO much better than anything I did and the original! Does the forum have a way for me to download that? I don't see one.

chauncey wrote in post #17908448
Aah...what have you tried?

Ahhh, I have no idea. Clicked things on the gradient tool and dragged the cursor up and down the image. (I actually have used the gradient tool but only following a tutorial, so I kind of followed the tut, but it had a different goal in mind and didn't work so well for this.) She's kind of anxious to have a print of this and asking for help is bound to get it to her a lot faster than if I take the time to learn how to use the gradient tool.

Here you go.

I have used the gradient tool in Lightroom to make similar adjustments so I assume the one in PSE would work too. If you have the image in RAW format (or at least a high res JPEG) that would be better to work with.

Drop the shadows and raise the highlights, add some contrast. I also removed reflections in the window.

ncjohn wrote in post #17908639
That is SO much better than anything I did and the original! Does the forum have a way for me to download that? I don't see one.

Posting the image on the forum won't be much good for printing. You need to apply the changes to the large original image file if you want to make a decent print.

If you know how to install / use photoshop filters, you can download mine here: Gradient Tools
(free for non-commercial use, Windows only, use with 32-bit applications)

I appreciate everybody's help. I wish there were a bigger/better version of this but there isn't. Jazzman, I like your gradient but I have 64 bit Windows.
Thank you all for your work; I'll see what I can do with what you've given me.

Not all software that runs on a 64bit windows system is 64bit. You can run for example 32bit IrfanView on your computer, which is a slim and handy application and which allows you to execute photoshop plugins.

There is no disadvantage in running 32bit image editing software, as long as you are not handling really huge images.


PS: I PMed you a link to the edited photo.

And I got it. Thanks!