Need a hand with Sky

maddogcollins

Hi everyone, I want get this image printed (for sentimental reasons) and I was hoping to do a bit of work on the sky..mainly darken areas of it as its very blown out. I use GIMP and cannot figure out how to,or find a tutorial I can follow. If anybody has a chance would they mind posting an attempt/a brief guide on how I could do it. I will keep looking for tutorial in mean time. Thanks in advance.

richardbradley

Did you shoot the original in jpeg or raw? If you have a raw file then this is really easy and can explain if you have the file - basically covert it twice - once at the right exposure for the foreground and once for the sky, then layer them and delete the burnt out sky - happy to explain fully but no point unless you have the RAW file.

If you only have the jpeg then its a little tougher as highlights will have burnt out. Can be done with a new levels adjustment layer in photoshop but not sure how in gimp - if you pm me ur email address im happy to mail you, you mail me the pic and i'll have a go for you. I have tried to attach a view of what it will look like - better but still have burnt out bits.

Has the sky got sentimental value or just the building etc? Another option is just to replace the sky with another one.

maddogcollins

I only have JPEG original im afraid. What you have in your sattempt if pretty much what I am aiming for. Ill try a new layer levels adjustment. Ill pm you my email address too and Ill send you on the original then later on this evening/tomorrow morning.

It sthe building thats of sentimental value but just think the sky needs work to finish the picture.Thanks

Anouilh

Irfanview has a very quick and effective "Colour Corrections" feature that helps enhance details.
If you reapply colour corrections a second time, changing gamma and contrast in particular, you will get some fine enhancement.

Here is an example

maddogcollins

Thanks Anouilh, Ill give it a try

ColmDawson

You could clone bits of sky that aren't blown out over the bits that are.

smelltheglove

I know you are probably sorted by now but I am extremely bored so here you are.

I opened it in camera raw, reduced the exposure, cut out the sky and then opened again in normal exposure and pasted in the sky from the underexposed image.

maddogcollins

smelltheglove wrote: »

I know you are probably sorted by now but I am extremely bored so here you are.

I opened it in camera raw, reduced the exposure, cut out the sky and then opened again in normal exposure and pasted in the sky from the underexposed image.

Thats a great attempt smelltheglove. Greatly appreciate it. Brings the image to life again a bit more. Iv a few good attempts from people here at boards.ie and I am very greatful for your efforts.

thanks