Introduction

These image are not the best in composition nor of great artistry. Just a simple illustration on what can be done and how I do it. But always remember, a good image never need a lot of manipulation or processing.

Also, there are many ways to come to the final end product and this is just one of the ways.

Images shot in jpeg will still be able to be processed in this manner but it is subjective to the dynamic range of the data embedded in the file. Shooting in RAW gives you more flexibility.

This image was shot in RAW.

Step 1

This is an image shot under canopy with low light and relatively slow shutter speed just enough to get a sharp pic from handholding the lens. You should notice that this shot is underexposed but the white feathers on its breast still holds acceptable details. Anyway, I opened this image into my CS2 and placed this image as an individual layer.

 

Step 2

Next, from my raw convertor, with the same raw image, I pushed up the exposure compensation by 2 stops to get better details of the underexposed areas and send this image into CS2. Notice that the breast area is overexposed in this one but the surrounding is well lighted.

Step 3

Drag the image02 into the image01 on CS2 and this will create a another layer. Image01 is ‘layer 1′ while image02 is ‘layer 2′.

Step 4

Align the images exactly ontop of each other using the align tool and select layer 2.

 

Step 5

I am now going to erase the underexposed parts off layer 2 (in this case, everything except the KF breast). Click on the eraser tool. Change the brush setting to 0 hardness. Brush size is depending on the image size but I always prefer a huge brush. Larger brush gives better anti-aliasing effect while the smaller brush are used on the tighter areas.

Step 6

Using the eraser, paint off the underexposed layer except the KF breast area. Image outcome should somewhat looked like this. Exposure of the breast of KF and surrounding are now more properly balanced in the image. Now, merge the 2 layers together into 1.

Ok, next, lets try to enhance this image further by blurring the background abit and also removing the surrounding noise.

Step 7

Create a duplicate layer for this image (2 similar image layers). Then select the bottom layer.

Step 8

Select gaussian blur and blur off the bottom layer like this. Toggle the eye switch on the layers to see the images.

 

==Step 9== Select the top layer. Using the eraser tool once again with the brush set to 0 hardness with adequate brush size and start painting (erasing) off the surrounding that will make the image looked to have a better bokeh. Outcome of image should look like this

Step 10

Lastly, final touches. Tune the saturation, curves, etc. to your liking. If displaying the pic on web, resize to appropriate web size, and do smart sharpening. Amount: 50%-150%, Radius: 0.3pixels, Remove: Lens blur. Save and WALAH……..

 
Hope my explanation is simple enough for you guys to understand.

 

Cheers.

Roger
Photographs and article are copyright of Roger Deng