Post processing ; challenging problem

[kevin99989]

The first photo is the post processed one, the second is the original (unchanged raw image).

There are obvious problems in the post processed one. Just wondering how you would handle the dark/light contrast areas differently? ie - the part where the water meets the sky. (Note: there is no tree behind the largest pillar of water. Its background is the sky)

I used Lightroom, with 2 different exposure brush "densities" on the water area near the sky.

Also, please comment on the effect that I'm trying to achieve. I wish to highlight the water as well as the sky.

[Marko]

I think you have done a decent job here for 1 frame. Your camera can only handle so much range in a given exposure and this is the reason for the popularity of HDR where people shoot multiple frames of the same image using different exposures and blend them in post.

The whites are likely clipped in this RAW image therefore more burning will probably look bad. You'll probably have to resort to cloning and other processing 'tricks' to get more meat out of the sky.

[kevin99989]

thanks Marko,
I've tried doing several exposures, but the fountain was changing so much (water output, height, etc - it's a "dancing fountain") the water was in different positions in each shot.

I will try that clone stamp on the some of the parts!

[Bambi]

here's my version:
I duplicated the layers, adjusted the curves and details, then duplicated again- adjusted the curves to darken the sky and then masked it through

[Marko]

thanks Marko,
I've tried doing several exposures, but the fountain was changing so much (water output, height, etc - it's a "dancing fountain") the water was in different positions in each shot.

I will try that clone stamp on the some of the parts!

I hear ya but the blown part is the problem. not the moving water. so the blown sky doesn't move if you shoot fast...the water is close to blocking that bright spot but I think this was saveable with an additional exposure of around -3 stops

You'd layer the dark image under this one and blend only that problem spot .

(Nice stab bambi)

[kevin99989]

Wow - thanks for that Bambi - it looks amazing! Can you tell me more details of how you did that (unless it's your trade secret .

there were 2 layers in total, right? When you "masked it through", which blending mode did you use, or was it the sky portion in the darker layer being masked through (ie. with none of the sky from the lighter layer)? If so, you must have increased the mid-tone contrast quite a bit while creating the darker layer?

Thanks in advance!!

[Bambi]

Wow - thanks for that Bambi - it looks amazing! Can you tell me more details of how you did that (unless it's your trade secret .

there were 2 layers in total, right? When you "masked it through", which blending mode did you use, or was it the sky portion in the darker layer being masked through (ie. with none of the sky from the lighter layer)? If so, you must have increased the mid-tone contrast quite a bit while creating the darker layer?

Thanks in advance!!

thanks. all I did was play with what was there. I have no trade secrets just a crappy memory. I believe that I did exactly what you said and yes I played with the midtone contrasts.