Photoshop help needed

[p-i-]

I've got a couple of pics I need some Photoshop help with. The basic problem is I think the same in all of them: there is too much light behind the subject (is that overexposure?). I've got a series picture for instance with a lady's face and alotta bright sunlight behind her. I also have another one that was shot indoors and has these interior lamps that look totally bright.

If I posted a sample picture or two, could someone offer me some (semi detailed) photoshop advice? And if so, should I give full res pictures or crop them down?

Thanks.

[archman]

Try this: Go to Image, then Adjustments, then Shadow/Highlight. Click the "Show more options" button if you haven't already done so.

Pull all the levers for Shadows to the left; then fiddle around with the "Highlights" levers, and see if you can get rid of some of the background light.

Another option if you're using CS2 is to play around with the Exposure, also found under Image/Adjustments. Messing with the "Offset" may get you some results. Be careful with any of the adjustments in Exposure--it can be very touchy.

[Vitahappy]

yea i hate editin my pics in PS.. usually i try to be careful as i am out shooting. like you, i dont like it when it's too bright out there, just washes everything out. good luck and post the results soon.

[bearcat7777]

Post a shot here for us to play with.

[p-i-]

Here's two kind of different ones.

The first is against a bright background and her face looks kind of lit up imo. Maybe I'm being overly critical?



The second is indoors and to me the lights look like alien lights eating into your brain. I just did a quick crop job on it since there was a kid in the foreground.

[seemaya]

imo...i think the focus is more a probLem than the light

first one her face is washed out because of lens flare
you got light scatering about the lens elements
which killing contrast among other t things
gotta shield the lens from the sun or point it further away from it
if youre using a protective filter - take it off
you can try to fix this in PS using the levels adjustment
drag the left side adjustment to the right to add contrast


second one is just the way it iz

[p-i-]

Originally Posted by deliriouspixel

first one her face is washed out because of lens flare
you got light scatering about the lens elements
which killing contrast among other t things
gotta shield the lens from the sun or point it further away from it
if youre using a protective filter - take it off
you can try to fix this in PS using the levels adjustment
drag the left side adjustment to the right to add contrast


second one is just the way it iz

So I'm using a point and shoot camera. I don't think there are any shields for a point and shoot are there? Second one is of course indoors and I probably didn't pick the most focussed of my pictures. So I'll just have to deal with that.

Thanks.

[SnapShotz]

One old skool trick you can try for the sun glare....use you hand.

Basically use your non shutter hand to block direct sunlight. What you'll want to do is have the thumb holding the outer portion of your lens and then flatten out the rest of your hand to cover the glass.
(think about using a salute style gesture to cover your eyes on a sunny day) Same premise. The drawback of doing that though is you lose a little bit of steadyness with your camera. Instead of two hands holding the camera still, you're really only using 1 1/2. Try it and see if you can get away with it.