Have you ever had an eye exam? Well here's one for you to comment about!
I've been struggling with Photoshop's masking features forever. For some reason i've had a mental block against them for quite some time. As a result I always get images that I know I can make better using PS and some masking tools; yet, I give up because it was just too hard.
Well, I finally decided it was time to learn. I picked up a book titled "Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers," written by Ellen Anon and Tim Grey. Their explanations are really good and I am happy to say I now "get" how to do masks. I don't know what my problem was, they are so easy!
Anyway, here's a pic I processed in my usual way using a few steps in Apple's Aperture software:
The dynamic range for digital cameras has not quite caught up to the range that can be captured with film. So, I always shoot for processing to the middle. That is, balance the light and the dark areas. The results, as you see here, are a sky that's too bright with lost detail in the clouds and a dog that is too dark with lost detail in the fur.
Now that I can do masks, I decided to try again using photoshop to add two curves layers to this image and mask part of it so that I could maximize the exposure settings for both the dog and the sky while maintaining a natural look.
I think this second image is much more visually exciting than the one above... What do you think? Did I over do it?
Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 17-40mm f/4 L
Shutter = 1/100
Aperture = f/11
Focal Length = 33mm
Flash = On
ISO = 200
Shutter = 1/100
Aperture = f/11
Focal Length = 33mm
Flash = On
ISO = 200
How did you get that psycho dog to sit still long enough to take this picture?? I actually thought the sky in the first picture looked good, though Lucy was a bit underexposed.
Hi there,
I found your blog because I googled "Yellow Aster Butte" and found your photo... Just hiked it yesterday and completely filled up my camera memory card, it was so beautiful. What a place!! I'll have to do it in the fall as well and catch the changing of the seasons.
Anyway, I'm also struggling with the problem of photos being washed out in bkground and not in foreground, so I was happy to see your post about the masking on photoshop. I do think that photo looks better.
I am just getting into digital photography, so it is all greek to me. I'll have to start playing around with my photos. Great blog!