[B&W] Inreasing contrast without losing detail

Merrion

Folks,

I'm looking to increase the contrast in this photo:
on flickr
but doing so seems to lose all the difinition...

Fajitas!

Try using your dodge and burn tools. Select Burn, then on the options at the top, select "Shadows" and run over the areas you want darker, then select Dodge, go bac up the the same box and select "Highlights" and lighten the areas. Takes a bit to get used to it if you haven't used it before!

Bte, keep the exposure on 10 or under, the effects are too strong otherwise!

Zillah

There's also levels and curves. I'll give it a shot.

And yeah, I have no idea why the Burn/Dodge is so strong, I never use it above 10.


EDIT: Ok, either my PC is messed up or flickr has some damn impression copyright protection in place. If I copy the image I only capture one pixel, and if I save it, it almost crashes Photoshop and is then also only one pixel. Bizarre.

rabbitinlights

Here is a link to the original.

Zillah

Actually, taking a closer look, you don't want to increase the contrast, the left side of his face (right of photo) is a bit too bright as it is. I think just a bit of burning in on the left hand side of the photo could look well.

*goes back to fiddling*


EDIT:

Hows that:




Its not perfect though. I think the left side of his face is just too bright, it has no texture.

edunon

My attempt:



In photoshop, I add an empty layer, soft light blending.
Then with a soft brush, 20% oppacity black, I painted on the bright areas of the face, trying to bring some detail back.
Then adjusted levels to make the whites in the eyes the most white in the photo.

Fionn

this is open for anyone to give it a go?

i'll be back with an offering

Fionn

here's my take on it!!!

Merrion

Thanks all - good tips.