Please take a look at some of the before and after processing examples below.
Please click on images to scroll through larger versions :
Please click on images to scroll through larger versions :
BEFORE AFTER
HDR blend can't quite present the extremes of light and shadow in this kitchen shot....
With careful masking and local curves and HSL adjustments, both zones can be presented optimally.
Ambient shot...
manually layering a flashed shot and enhancing the view brings the scene to life.
Window pull via masked in exposure
Window pull via masked in exposure
Tungsten lamps can create an overly warm cast....
... a more balanced result via selective masking and HSL adjustments.
HDR blend....
... benefits from removal of colour casts on walls and ceilings and smoothing out bedsheets.
Mixed light sources can only be white balanced one way....
a lot of careful masking ensures a more neutral look for better image contrast.
Flash filled single RAW image....
whites cleaned up and window views enhanced, with reflections removed.
Ambient image: global adjustments can only go so far....
With pen tool created masks, texture can be enhanced where needed, colour fidelity can be restored and local object contrast increased as the ambient light is too omni-directional.
The table top in this image could have benefitted from a polariser filter to cut down on the reflection...
via locally applied adjustments we can restore some contrast and cut down on the flare.
HDR, ambient light only, with global adjustments ....
... and following local adjustments including window pull.
With location photography, it's often hard to control all the stray light at play; this tends to "dilute" the inherent contrast in individual items...
...the remedy is not a global contrast adjustment but careful selective adjustments to restore local contrast where it's required.
Single RAW, flash-filled....
. with multiple local adjustments applied to restore local colour and contrast, while maintaining overall coherence.
Flash filled single RAW with global adjustments...
... and after extensive local adjustments, plus dropping in of lamps.
HDR blended image...
...with window pull and increased warmth adjustment.
Below: this image of a hairdresser's salon suffered from a number of flare issues caused by the overhead lights, leading to weak contrast and colour saturation elsewhere in the image. The combination of luminance sources of differing white balance also led to colour casts and contamination. With careful masking and adjustments, the impact of the original scene was restored ....
