Exercise 20 - improvements

I carried out this improvement exercise for one of the images I selected for my first assignment entitled: Walkers.

I'd taken a few photographs of this street because of the reflections in the rain on the large paving stones. The street alone, regardless of the reflections, didn't make for a 'good' photograph - there was nothing to anchor your view. Adding pedestrians to the image was just a matter of timing and placement - most people walked up the centre of the street rather than on the cobbles.

Having taken a few shots with varying exposures I opted to expose for the reflections, rather than the people, and then make the necessary adjustments later in Photoshop.

Walkers - as shot

The process I followed was exactly as per the exercise in the file. I selected the walkers and feathered the edge.

Selection and refined edge

Once happy with this I added a curves adjustment layer and lightened my selection.

Photoshop toolbar showing layers and adjustments

After this first adjustment, I made a second selection of the walker on the far right and lightened him again. (Not shown here.)

Walkers- final image

A similar effect was achieved using 'fill light' in the raw, however, this lightened everything especially the shadow in front of the walkers and changed the whole feel of the image.

"Consider the limits that you would accept for this to remain an innocent, legitimate adjustment."

Observing the scene, I certainly was not aware of my eyes adjusting between the light from the reflection and the relatively dark clothing of the walkers. In previous exercises we have already determined that my camera has a more limited dynamic range than my (human) eye. Therefore, I would suggest that rather than a dodgy or questionable adjustment this is an appropriate adjustment as it better represents how I saw the scene on the day.

Generally I think lightening/darkening areas within an image, by whatever means - curves or dodging/burning, is acceptable.