Thanks for stopping by. I am grateful for your comments. I had been debating on darkening it up a bit but have had problem in the past with this. It will look one way on my computer and then another way once I have uploaded the image to the site. Took your advice and believe it looks much richer and has more depth.
Shooting in bright sunlight is so challenging, but you did rather well with it! I've had some pretty good luck by fiddling with PS menu Image>Adjustments>Shadow/Highlight The Shadow defaults to 50, so you often have to move that to zero or 1 or 2 (works great for lightening shadows but don't overdo it). The highlights often only need 1 or 2, too (but it won't recover blown highlights). Images with higher contrast will require more. You can also duplicate your original layer, make your adjustments to that layer then apply a layer mask and paint away the areas you don't want affected. Sometimes two separate adjustment layers are called for, one for highlights and one for shadows; you can then combine the best of both masked layers into one image. Let me know if this isn't clear. I think if you just brighten up the shadows here the image will immediately look more balanced to you and less contrasty, which always helps. It's a nice capture.
Hi Karen! One thing about this place...what you don't know about PS someone is always willing to help you learn, and I'm learning from what Beverly told you.
I love the 'group hug' remark. You really got a super capture, my friend. They're so beautiful...great depth of color!
Beverly Guhl wrote:
Karen! What a fun shot. Animals are the best.
Shooting in bright sunlight is so challenging, but you did rather well with it! I've had some pretty good luck by fiddling with PS menu Image>Adjustments>Shadow/Highlight The Shadow defaults to 50, so you often have to move that to zero or 1 or 2 (works great for lightening shadows but don't overdo it). The highlights often only need 1 or 2, too (but it won't recover blown highlights). Images with higher contrast will require more. You can also duplicate your original layer, make your adjustments to that layer then apply a layer mask and paint away the areas you don't want affected. Sometimes two separate adjustment layers are called for, one for highlights and one for shadows; you can then combine the best of both masked layers into one image. Let me know if this isn't clear. I think if you just brighten up the shadows here the image will immediately look more balanced to you and less contrasty, which always helps. It's a nice capture....Show more →
Thats exactly what I want to do I think? Ive just bought CS3 book to figure the layer mask thing out. I think it might be fsaster to come to TX for a tutorial.
This is fantastic. I have tried all week to get one of our dos and the puppies but it is hard to have camera and dogs in hand w/o an assistant. I hope to se this in the finals.
Hi Karen
Really lovely picture, just hope they dont end up plaiting themselves!
A CS2 advice book i was reading recently had one photographer comment "after using levels the only other thing i need is the shadow/highlights command to sort out those contrasty days". I took a load of shots i took in midday sun in kenya a few years ago and it worked a treat with them.
Take care
Mark
Thank you all for taking the time to view and comment. I also want to thank Beverly for the PS comments. I do not have PS but hope to someday. I am working with the very limited Canon software that came with the camera. I could say that I am a purest at hart and do not like all the post process but that would be a lie. It is really just a matter of lack of funds. Maybe someday I will be able to post process my shots to the point were they do not even look like what I first took. You know use all the bells and whistles that come with PS. But for now I am stuck with what I have.
I have been keeping the comments about PS that have been posted for when I do get it so keep them coming.
Hi Karen
If you go to canon support then downloads, and then chose cameras and your model you can get the latest DPP software from them. Some say that it is better than The Adobe system as it gets the best out of canon cameras. The latest version is 3.2 and will work on windows 2000, xp and even vista (the last i know for sure as that is the system i am running.) You will be able to do a lot of the tweaks to the exposure, white balence etc... there, if of course you want to. I've used it with RAW and JPEG's successfully.
If you already have this.... sorry for wasting your time.
Take care
Mark
Hi Karen - This is such a great image! You've captured a perfect moment and done a very good job! A winner! (The latest version of PS Elements is a great starting tool for post processing. While it does lack in areas of PS, it sure does help and is more affordable).
Great capture, I like it a lot.
Thats exactly what I want to do I think? Ive just bought CS3 book to figure the layer mask thing out. I think it might be fsaster to come to TX for a tutorial.