Advice Request Regarding Dealing with Reflections

Below is a cropped photo I took of a dolphin at Brookfield Zoo. The reflections on the dolphin are largely from light coming from side- and skylight-windows adjacent/above the pool in which the dolphins perform. I have access to Adobe CC, but I don't think I'm proficient enough in post-processing techniques to successfully deal with this amount of reflection. What would be the simplest way to "post-process away" the reflections? Lastly, is it possible to minimize these types of reflections during image capture? I had a circular polarizing filter with me, but the dolphins were moving so quickly, I didn't even attempt to use it. Any suggestions/tips to remove or minimize the reflections would be most appreciated.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2vl2qag.jpg

In Capture 1 there's a tool called "High Dynamic Range" that allows you to adjust blown highlights. There may be a similar tool in your software.

On another layer clone over the highlighted area as best as you can. Then adjust layer blend option to darken and reduce layer transparency until it looks as natural as possible. With a bit of practice, time and care it is surprising how successful a recovery can be made.

Good learning exercise even if you can't get a result you are happy with.

Try using the healing brush tool in Photoshop. Sample a nearby place that does not have the reflection and then using a brush size that is slightly bigger than the reflection you want to fix, paint over it. Make sure you put a new blank layer above the image and set the the Sample setting to "current layer and below". That way your original data will not be changed.

If none of the recommendations already made work well enough or easy enough for you, select the area you want to change. Then use a color picker to fill the selection with a color that is adjacent to the selection. Try various opacities and blending modes to achieve a natural blend.

As for capturing the image, I would perhaps have used a polarizer just to minimize the glare on parts of the water. It wouldn't have been possible to eliminate all glare on the water much less all glare also on the animals.

Following is a screen shot of a quick edit using the method I described above. With Photoshop there are usually several ways of achieving an edit.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2z557bt.jpg

To be honest Randy, I am struggling to understand what the problem is with the reflections?

If taken to the extreme (probably not your intention), if they were not present at all (either by magic or PP), how would we know what shape the dolphin is, if all we can see is a uniform grey? (do you see what I mean?)

Dave

PS
Even Paul's helpful example is a bit further than I'd go, but I'm not sure I'd be worrying about them in the first place.

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Originally Posted by JBW

In Capture 1 there's a tool called "High Dynamic Range" that allows you to adjust blown highlights. There may be a similar tool in your software.

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Thanks, Brian. I don't believe that the highlights are blown. The areas that concerned me were the areas on the top of the animal's head, near its eyes, and along its snout. I believe those areas to be reflections on water that hasn't yet completely drained-off of the dolphin when it surfaced.

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Originally Posted by pnodrog

Following is a screen shot of a quick edit using the method I described above. With Photoshop there are usually several ways of achieving an edit.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2z557bt.jpg

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Thanks, Paul, for all the advice and for working on the image. I greatly appreciate it. I will try to replicate your method on the image and see if I can reproduce what you've graciously done.

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Originally Posted by GrumpyDiver

Try using the healing brush tool in Photoshop. Sample a nearby place that does not have the reflection and then using a brush size that is slightly bigger than the reflection you want to fix, paint over it. Make sure you put a new blank layer above the image and set the the Sample setting to "current layer and below". That way your original data will not be changed.

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Manfred, thanks for your replay. It seems very similar to the advice Paul gave, but utilizes the healing brush rather than the clone tool. I intend to try both methods.

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

If none of the recommendations already made work well enough or easy enough for you, select the area you want to change. Then use a color picker to fill the selection with a color that is adjacent to the selection. Try various opacities and blending modes to achieve a natural blend.

As for capturing the image, I would perhaps have used a polarizer just to minimize the glare on parts of the water. It wouldn't have been possible to eliminate all glare on the water much less all glare also on the animals.

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Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. That's another method I will try. I did have a polarizer with me, but I didn't use it. Especially after viewing the entire presentation, I was confident I could not have adjusted the polarizer properly and gotten good images using it at the pace the presentation occurred.

If it were mine, I'd be thinking along the same lines as Dave H - the dolphin is wet, so it reflects and that looks fine to me.

Still, it's what you want, and having an extra tool in the bag is always good.

Dave

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Originally Posted by Dave Humphries

To be honest Randy, I am struggling to understand what the problem is with the reflections?

If taken to the extreme (probably not your intention), if they were not present at all (either by magic or PP), how would we know what shape the dolphin is, if all we can see is a uniform grey? (do you see what I mean?)

Dave

PS
Even Paul's helpful example is a bit further than I'd go, but I'm not sure I'd be worrying about them in the first place.

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Dave, thanks very much for your reply. I believe I understand your point. I do not want to remove shadow areas on the top of the animal's head, along its snout, or around its eye. Those are the accurate characteristics of the image that give it "structure," if that is the correct term. However, I am certain that the areas I am unhappy with are not an accurate representations of how the animal looks. Perhaps I posted a poor example photo. However, I have photos that are much "worse" than the one I posted. I am posting a "before" and "after" example of PP I did on another image (I think successfully) to illustrate what I'd like to accomplish.

Pre-Processed Image:

http://i68.tinypic.com/20z7o2a.jpg

Post-Processed Image:

http://i66.tinypic.com/2a8g5yu.jpg

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Originally Posted by davidedric

If it were mine, I'd be thinking along the same lines as Dave H - the dolphin is wet, so it reflects and that looks fine to me.

Still, it's what you want, and having an extra tool in the bag is always good.

Dave

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Thanks, Dave. The initial image I posted has fewer reflections than the image I posted showing before and after post-processing farther down in the thread. From the comments I received, I think I might be overly critical of my images...or everyone is overly polite to me:)

Well, that second image is a very successful example of changing a live animal into a dried, stuffed and put in a glass case at the museum effort. How's that for being less than overly polite?

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Originally Posted by miatab

Well, that second image is a very successful example of changing a live animal into a dried, stuffed and put in a glass case at the museum effort. How's that for being less than overly polite?

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Ken, thanks for the critique. I tend towards taking more "documentary" type-, than artsy-type, photos. Producing a very successful example of "a put in a glass case at (a) museum" photo is quite a compliment!!! :)

Hi again Randy,

My words below are merely me 'thinking out loud'.

Of the two images in post #13; I personally prefer the Pre-Processed version, while you obviously prefer the Post-Processed version - and that's fine with me - and you did a good job at removing those reflections.

However, the result just doesn't look natural to me because the clue to the shooting conditions is apparent in the water surface reflections and I should also see that on the dolphin's wet skin, but can't. You can't even tell if it is wet, but it ought to be, given the context of the rest of the image.

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I tend towards taking more "documentary" type-, than artsy-type, photos. Producing a very successful example of "a put in a glass case at (a) museum" photo is quite a compliment!!!

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I'd suggest it isn't as documentary now as it is in "Pre-Processing".

I'm trying to understand your point of view; I can accept that the reflection's shapes are determined by the architecture surrounding (and covering?) the pool - and may be you're wanting a result that doesn't betray the location.

The concept you're aiming for might work better for my sensibilities if you also lifted the dolphin (and immediately surrounding water) and it were printed on a white page - or use a white vignette and a wide white border.

For me; that would make it more of an illustration ('art' if you will) and then I could accept the lack of wetness.

I suppose another alternative might be to actually expand the reflective areas, to hide the architectural aspects.


Hmm, food for thought.

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Originally Posted by Dave Humphries

Hi again Randy,

My words below are merely me 'thinking out loud'.

Of the two images in post #13; I personally prefer the Pre-Processed version, while you obviously prefer the Post-Processed version - and that's fine with me - and you did a good job at removing those reflections.

However, the result just doesn't look natural to me because the clue to the shooting conditions is apparent in the water surface reflections and I should also see that on the dolphin's wet skin, but can't. You can't even tell if it is wet, but it ought to be, given the context of the rest of the image.



I'd suggest it isn't as documentary now as it is in "Pre-Processing".

I'm trying to understand your point of view; I can accept that the reflection's shapes are determined by the architecture surrounding (and covering?) the pool - and may be you're wanting a result that doesn't betray the location.

The concept you're aiming for might work better for my sensibilities if you also lifted the dolphin (and immediately surrounding water) and it were printed on a white page - or use a white vignette and a wide white border.

For me; that would make it more of an illustration ('art' if you will) and then I could accept the lack of wetness.

I suppose another alternative might be to actually expand the reflective areas, to hide the architectural aspects.


Hmm, food for thought.

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Thanks, Dave. Your points are very valid. You are also correct that some of the reflections are caused from the architecture of the building. The first photo I posted shows a three-sided reflection that represents a portion of an overhead, rectangular skylight. In that photo, on the dorsal reflection near the snout, you can even see darker, patterned areas where the sunlight was blocked by the gridwork bounding the multiple panes of glass comprising the skylight. On an overcast day in the future, I intend to attend the dolphin show again and see how photos taken then turn-out. I also will try your suggestion regarding a white vignette and a wide white border. Thanks, again, for all of your suggestions.

Hi Randy,

I like your unedited photo with the reflections!

That being said, if you wanted to remove the reflections I would recommend Google Nik if (Viveza and Color Efex) you want to make smart selections within an area and not have to precisely paint over the area with your mouse. You click on the offending tonal area and select a circle radius around that point - the software matches all similar tonal areas within the circle. Fast and simple. And free.

As for filters, if the reflective subject is lit from many different sources at different angles and reflecting from different surfaces I can't think of a filter that will help you.

Michael

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Originally Posted by paintingwithlight

Hi Randy,

I like your unedited photo with the reflections!

That being said, if you wanted to remove the reflections I would recommend Google Nik if (Viveza and Color Efex) you want to make smart selections within an area and not have to precisely paint over the area with your mouse. You click on the offending tonal area and select a circle radius around that point - the software matches all similar tonal areas within the circle. Fast and simple. And free.

As for filters, if the reflective subject is lit from many different sources at different angles and reflecting from different surfaces I can't think of a filter that will help you.

Michael

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Thanks, Michael! I've heard of Nik plug-ins but weren't sure what they did. I'll certainly download them and experiment with them. The consensus seems that be most prefer the reflections.