8 replies to this topic

[Miloe]

Ok
Fish school.
Cozumel, MX - Feb 2004

Aquatica/8in dome
D100 @ 125th/ISO 100
Sigma 15mm @ 5.6
DS125 @ 1/2 with diffusor
Me - just learning

Played with levels a bit in photoshop.
Any thoughts on improving it after the fact.

[james]

If this was shot in RAW, I suggest bringing down the exposure by .25 to .5 stops. This will darken the overall shot but I think will result in a more pleasing blue water.

If shot in JPEG, then you can use curves to do the same. I would try to lower the highlights side of the curve.

The composition and strobe exposure is excellent. I might also consider "getting rid of" the rock on the lower right.

HTH
James

[yahsemtough]

If shot in JPEG, then you can use curves to do the same.  I would try to lower the highlights side of the curve.

HTH
James

Which is the highlights side of the curve?

I shoot RAW but this may help me better understand how to best use curves. I will have to do a search to see but, maybe a discussion or article similiar to the RAW one on how curves works may be very useful.

[Miloe]

I've been back and forth about the rock, can't make up my mind.

I'll give curves a try to bring down the highlights a bit, they are a bit blown out.

It's JPEG unfortunetly.

I've been avoiding shooting RAW just because I don't want to limit my number of shots per card.
Looks like I'm going to have to give up and either buy a bigger CF or just open the case between dives to change CF.

[herbko]

If shot in JPEG, then you can use curves to do the same.  I would try to lower the highlights side of the curve.

HTH
James

Which is the highlights side of the curve?

I shoot RAW but this may help me better understand how to best use curves. I will have to do a search to see but, maybe a discussion or article similiar to the RAW one on how curves works may be very useful.

The right side. I agree with James. Try pulling down on the curve at around 3/4 of length of the diagonal line.

[yahsemtough]

That was my guess based on a histogram. Thanks, love the new program.

[james]

Thanks Herb. I wish I could write an article about curves, but I just don't understand them that well. At the Digital Shootout Daniel and Julliane seemed to concentrate on using Levels instead, as you can get the same results using either control. I just like grabbing the curves I guess...:-)

Cheers
James

[herbko]

This is IMHO the best article on digital photograhy:

http://www.normankor...l_tonality.html

Curves, and why they are a good thing is covered near the end.

[Mumford]

Yep... I agree, curves is very handy and it's fun to pull on the line, lol.
And yes, those are Horse-eye Jacks ...great shot!