Spent the weekend in Arches National Park, I'm not a fan of the arches because there are so many photo's of the place and people, holy moley. There from everywhere the locals like to call there super-market the international market, now that I'm over that.
I took several photo's of the renowned Balancing Rock and would like a thought or two on them.
So here goes.
This is the one that I like

I like the first image, Lynn, fine shadows and highlights with good tones and colors. Nice capture.

Bob

Good pics Lynn...

Rod

Love the first shot - the contrast in the sky, the red clay and the mountains in the background is great. Thanks for sharing!

Marcy

Thanks Bob, Rod, and Marcy for your comments on these photo's
Lynn

Hey Lynn,

It's cool to watch the lighting walk it's way through here. How about this for a thought? A combination of the two shots? Use Balanced Rock from the second shot with a layer mask to bring it into #1?

Jim

Thanks Jim,
I'm not to sure how to do that I'm not use to the layer mask idea, is it much like taking two photos and layering them together like a digital blend? I use the one that Luminous Landscape has a tutorial on.

Lynn: Very nice. I'm with Jim's suggestion. Jim might have a faster way, but assuming both photos were taken locked in on a tripod, open the first image, then open the second image. With the second image active Control A (select entire image) then Control C (copy the image); then close the second image. Now the first image is active. Then Control V (past the second image over the first).

Then go to Layer, Layer Mask, hide all (the 2nd image overlay is now masked)

No go to your paint brush (select the size you want) and paint (with white selected) to reveal the mask (the brighter light of the second, brighter image of Balanced Rock) over the first image. If you pained too much, change the color to black (left hand tool black/white, near the bottom) and paint with black to hide the excess.

Flatten image.

Save.


Good luck


Bart

Jim and Bart are on to something here. Lovely takes, Lynn....but put the best of both together and you've definitely got a keeper.
Another way to stack them: Open both images in PS/select the 'move' tool (keyboard shortcut - v)/ holding the shift key (to keep the two images pin registered, again assuming the camera didn't move between the two exposures), click and drag one on top of the other. Very quick and simple.
Then use your brush tool as Bart prescribed. Paint in the effects you want, and out those you don't.

Barry

Fine shots Lynn. It's worth trying the layer mask thingy. I've just given Bart's mini-tutorial a wee try and it works!
David

Not to sound like I don't know anything but this statement doesn't seem to work for me


Then go to Layer, Layer Mask, hide all (the 2nd image overlay is now masked)
Anyone have a idea what I'm doing wrong.
Lynn

Lynn, when you "hide all" the second layer is now underneath the original layer. You then need to paint with the white box selected with a brush to reveal the hidden second layer, wherever you want it to show. In this case, on the beautifully lit side of your Balanced Rock. As I say, if you've revealed too much, just change the black/white picker to black and it will hide the painted portion again,

Bart

I do every thing that you have told me to do the dark layer is the bottom layer and the lighter layer is the top layer, they this is what I do I go to the layer at the top of the PS and go down to the hide layer in this dropdown box, then I get the second layer to show but I can not make the Brush work on this layer because the target layer is hidden, so what do I do then or what is it that I'm doing wrong to make this not work? I do not see layer mask in the dropdown box at the top of PS I see the hide layer and that's what I do.
Also do I use the history brush or the brush, brush.
Lynn

I'm going to PM you so I don't take posting space.

Bart