Blown out Sky

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

 

Happy New year to you.  I wanted to ask you advice, I've just come back from a shoot in the Highlands where I have been photographing the mountain hares.  I have an image that I like but it had to shoot directly into the sun and now have a blown out sky.  

I know I have lost all the detail, but want to create a nice silhouette, and reduce the harshness of the blown out areas.

 

Any advice would be appreciated..

 

Adam 

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Adam,

Can you elaborate on the question a bit?  What is your vision for this?  Would you like to replace the sky with another sky?  Or just modify the sky that's there?

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

Just modify, to try and reduce the contrast between the blown out area.  

 

Adam

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, complete these sentences for me:

1. I would like to change the brightest part of the sky from light grey to __________________
2. I would like to change the darkest part of the sky from dark grey to _________________

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

 

Thanks for the reply, let me have a think on what i'm trying to achive..

 

Adam

[Damien Symonds]

Links to photos that inspire you would be helpful too.  That would let us really target our discussion, you know?

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

 

I have thought about the image a little more, I would like to try and achieve the following:

- Keep the drama and mood of the dark clouds

- introduce some golden / yellows to try and replicate sunset

- keep the silhouette of the hare and foreground

 

Cheers

Adam

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Please don't upload other people's photos.  It's bad manners.  Links only.

[Damien Symonds]

@Ads1976?  Got a link for me?

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

Apologies for not coming back to you, i've been away:  I have had a further think and supplied the follow links as reference.  I want to retain the silhouette of the hare, but add a little more orange in the sky to add some colour.

https://www.robertharding.com/preview/860-284369/brown-hare-meadow-sunrise-spring-gb/

https://www.robertharding.com/preview/995-432/mountain-hare-lepus-timidus-lying-heather-sun-setting/

https://www.robertharding.com/preview/995-435/mountain-hare-lepus-timidus-sitting-up-snow-heather/

I like the last image the most, but hopefully this will give you a better idea?  I can send a PSD if thats easier?

 

Adam 

[Damien Symonds]

Thanks, I can work with this.

I noticed that, in your original post, you provided a screenshot of your photo rather than the photo itself.  Can you post the photo for me?  In jpeg format is fine.

[Ads1976]

Hopefully this will work?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Almost

It's untagged.  Always make sure you have the profile box checked when saving, for any purpose.

[Ads1976]

Hi Damien,

Ive attached the screen grab of the output setting from PS CC.  I guess its also worth noting that i have had a few requests from people that want to purchase this as a print. 

One step at a time

 

Adam

[Damien Symonds]

This, I think, is the best we can do with the sky as it exists.  If you want more than this, we're in sky replacement territory.

It was a levels layer, masked to the sky:

• Red channel 0/1.50/245 and 85/255
• Green channel 0/1.20/250 and 45/240
• Blue channel 0/1.00/255 and 0/225

[Ads1976]

thats really nice.  Thanks Damien.  Do you think it could be improved with a sky replacement or would this be a little fake?

[Damien Symonds]

Well, it would need to be a carefully chosen sky, of course.  You couldn't whack any old sky in there.  It would need to be suitably out-of-focus.