Stairs to nowhere

[Dave A]

I shot this yesterday and really like the image but it has a few problems. The left side is on the verge of being blown out but my PP skills are not allowing me to correct this without changing the rest of the image too much. C-C and help would be appreciated. Feel free to try some editing it you are so inclined.

Dave

[Dave Humphries]

Possibly the second thing to consider - after attempting to get the best shot possible - is that if the light isn't right, can you get back there to shoot at a better time when the light will be from a better direction?

That may be what's called for to get the best from this scene.

You could do some localised 'burning' to reduce the over bright areas, but I can't remember what PP software you have Dave, to aid you more specifically.

[Dave A]

Thanks Dave, it may be worth going there again in the evening. I think the light may be better then. For PP I use Corel AfterShot 2 Pro.

Dave

[Shadowman]

To me the light isn't the issue so much as the stairs are almost without detail.

[IzzieK]

Will you be offended if I upload another version which you may or may not like? If you will be, then I will take it down..

[Dave A]

No problem Izzie, I'm always open to suggestions and re-editing of my images. After all I always have the originals.
That looks much better with more detail. What did you do?

Dave

[jcuknz]

My suggestion Dave .....
First I duplicated the layers in PSPx6 ... not heard of your editor before
Next I reduced the brightness of the top layer so that the foliage left centre was a reasonably brightness.
Next was to erase the top layer which was now too dark over the steps etc to reveal what you presented us.
It is often simply not possible to 'go back' so it is worth practicing your editing and often it is just a few simple steps which make it 'look right' and that is the key o editing ...being able to appreictae what looks right
anyway here's my effort of a few moments .. almost took longer to write this .... certainly and post the result.

[IzzieK]

No problem Izzie, I'm always open to suggestions and re-editing of my images. After all I always have the originals.
That looks much better with more detail. What did you do?

Dave

I just selectively select the shadowed areas then lightened them, sort of experimenting but it works so I continued on to the other darker areas and brightened them. I am sure you can do it with your software. I used Photoshop. Then very little, I used unsharped mask to sharpen the problem areas. Then I tackled the almost overexposed areas and darkened them as much or as little as I can go then sharpened them a little at a time until I felt they are OK. All the time, I was zoomed it to as much as 33% or sometimes 50% so that I can see if there are artifacts that might be showing. It is really very hard to work on a small jpg image...

Hope this helps.

[Dave A]

Thank you Izzie and John, defiantly improvements.

Dave

[bnnrcn]

Hi Dave, I find Isabel's edit better as the light doesn't distract but still shows

[Dave A]

Hi Dave, I find Isabel's edit better as the light doesn't distract but still shows

I agree.