Steve'sDigicams

Jenni · Jul 17, 2004, 10:51 AM

Okay this is really frustrating me! I took this picture at Ames house and have been trying to work with it in Photoshop, but am still not happy. Does anyone have any ideas to make it better? I think its the crop that is frustrating me, but Im not sure how to crop it to balance it out more. Grrrrrr......

Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Jenni · Jul 17, 2004, 10:52 AM

And this is the original, if it helps.

kadok6330 · Jul 17, 2004, 11:46 AM

Hi Jenni, i use the Kodak software that comes with my cx6330 to work with my pics and so far i'm happy with it. Before i used irfanview, not the best but did the job.http://www.irfanview.com/

ferny · Jul 17, 2004, 12:15 PM

Do you mind if I play with this later? I've got a couple of ideas but I'm not sure if any of them will work without trying.

brtsergio · Jul 17, 2004, 5:13 PM

Very tasteful interior design.

The vase is simply wonderful.

Here's my attempt at it.

P.S:

- free rotation in order to have vertical lines on the left

- select alltransformdistort on the top right part to correct some perspective deformation

- crop , with picture in rule of thirds position and wide aspect to respect the long queue piano shape.

- noisedespeckle

- contrastunsharp mask to increase sharpness

- a little burn tool brush on highlights of the picture

- burn toll brush on the dark reflections on the piano surface on the left side of the shot in order to remove them

- dodge tool brush on the vase

- sharp tool brush on the rose

- dominant color removal by clicking on the grey part of the vase in order to remove that orange-yellowish color

- some saturation enhancement

- sponge, saturation mode, tool brush on the rose to make it more red

- sharp tool brush on vase, rose and piano reflections

- a black frame around the shot

calr · Jul 18, 2004, 12:43 PM

I really like the setting. Is that highlight that is visible on the picture on the wall part of the picture or a a reflection from overhead lighting? If it is a reflection, a polarizing filter might help. Another possibility, if that is a public gallery with a light on the picture, it may be on a dimmer. See if they can dim it down a bit or turn it off and use the available light. You might need to make a white balance adjustment.

digcamfan · Jul 18, 2004, 4:23 PM

Hi Jenni...you may want to return...to Ames house and try this...

Bounce your flash at ceiling...if your flash is fixed you can use an index card to bounce it.

You will need to compensate for the bounce (means less light hits the subject but less blown highlights) with a +1 to +2 exposure.

Alternatively, you could try without flash by upping the ISO.

Be sure to check white balance for inside incandescen light.

Good luck

Jenni · Jul 18, 2004, 6:15 PM

Wow, thanks guys! Im gonna try all that you suggest once I go back there... tomorrow? lol.

I like what you did, brtsergio! And the way you listed what you did also helped, since I can sort of play around with the picture using your words as 'directions' in a sense.

And digcamfan, that is such a creative idea! My flash is fixed, but I would have NEVER thought of using an index card to bounce it! Ill have to try that with some other pictures!

Calr, the glare was from the overhead light, but Im not sure if you can dim it or not. I'll see when I go back to Amy's house. I kind of liked the 'highlight' the lights give, but now that I look at it, I realize it is really harsh! I also will try to dim those lights down a bit!

THANKS SO MUCH everyone for the tips! This was really frustrating me! Funny, how just one picture can get me all worked up. Strange world, I tell ya.

digcamfan · Jul 19, 2004, 1:47 PM

Re your quote, Jenni...

"This was really frustrating me! Funny, how just one picture can get me all worked up. Strange world, I tell ya."

One can grimace and say..."Dang...or #@@@$#..."

or...

One can smile and say...

"Gee, I love a challenge ohhhh soooooo much"

Good luck, kiddo!

Keep on keepin' on!

Jul 17, 2004, 10:51 AM	#1
Jenni Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 317	Okay this is really frustrating me! I took this picture at Ames house and have been trying to work with it in Photoshop, but am still not happy. Does anyone have any ideas to make it better? I think its the crop that is frustrating me, but Im not sure how to crop it to balance it out more. Grrrrrr...... Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks! Attached Images

Jul 17, 2004, 10:52 AM	#2
Jenni Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 317	And this is the original, if it helps. Attached Images

Jul 17, 2004, 5:13 PM	#5
brtsergio Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,435	Very tasteful interior design. The vase is simply wonderful. Here's my attempt at it. P.S: - free rotation in order to have vertical lines on the left - select alltransformdistort on the top right part to correct some perspective deformation - crop , with picture in rule of thirds position and wide aspect to respect the long queue piano shape. - noisedespeckle - contrastunsharp mask to increase sharpness - a little burn tool brush on highlights of the picture - burn toll brush on the dark reflections on the piano surface on the left side of the shot in order to remove them - dodge tool brush on the vase - sharp tool brush on the rose - dominant color removal by clicking on the grey part of the vase in order to remove that orange-yellowish color - some saturation enhancement - sponge, saturation mode, tool brush on the rose to make it more red - sharp tool brush on vase, rose and piano reflections - a black frame around the shot Attached Images

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Jul 17, 2004, 11:46 AM	#3
kadok6330 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 480	Hi Jenni, i use the Kodak software that comes with my cx6330 to work with my pics and so far i'm happy with it. Before i used irfanview, not the best but did the job.http://www.irfanview.com/

Jul 17, 2004, 12:15 PM	#4
ferny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,866	Do you mind if I play with this later? I've got a couple of ideas but I'm not sure if any of them will work without trying.

Jul 18, 2004, 12:43 PM	#6
calr Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 8,466	I really like the setting. Is that highlight that is visible on the picture on the wall part of the picture or a a reflection from overhead lighting? If it is a reflection, a polarizing filter might help. Another possibility, if that is a public gallery with a light on the picture, it may be on a dimmer. See if they can dim it down a bit or turn it off and use the available light. You might need to make a white balance adjustment.

Jul 18, 2004, 4:23 PM	#7
digcamfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,422	Hi Jenni...you may want to return...to Ames house and try this... Bounce your flash at ceiling...if your flash is fixed you can use an index card to bounce it. You will need to compensate for the bounce (means less light hits the subject but less blown highlights) with a +1 to +2 exposure. Alternatively, you could try without flash by upping the ISO. Be sure to check white balance for inside incandescen light. Good luck

Jul 18, 2004, 6:15 PM	#8
Jenni Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 317	Wow, thanks guys! Im gonna try all that you suggest once I go back there... tomorrow? lol. I like what you did, brtsergio! And the way you listed what you did also helped, since I can sort of play around with the picture using your words as 'directions' in a sense. And digcamfan, that is such a creative idea! My flash is fixed, but I would have NEVER thought of using an index card to bounce it! Ill have to try that with some other pictures! Calr, the glare was from the overhead light, but Im not sure if you can dim it or not. I'll see when I go back to Amy's house. I kind of liked the 'highlight' the lights give, but now that I look at it, I realize it is really harsh! I also will try to dim those lights down a bit! THANKS SO MUCH everyone for the tips! This was really frustrating me! Funny, how just one picture can get me all worked up. Strange world, I tell ya.

Jul 19, 2004, 1:47 PM	#9
digcamfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,422	Re your quote, Jenni... "This was really frustrating me! Funny, how just one picture can get me all worked up. Strange world, I tell ya." One can grimace and say..."Dang...or #@@@$#..." or... One can smile and say... "Gee, I love a challenge ohhhh soooooo much" Good luck, kiddo! Keep on keepin' on!