Salvaged?

[Tinka]

Hi all,
Here is an image of an elderly lady spinning wool in a dark poorly lit situation,
The flash failed miserably and as I can not repeat the image I had to try to salvage something, I converted to mono and adjusted in PS useing adjustment layers of various types, then tinted to try to produce an old style film effect, I resisted the urge to add extra film grain, what do you think? can it be improved any more? Is it/was it worth the effort?
Many thanks.

[Kurt]

Re: Salvaged?

Nice image and I like the old world look to it. The biggest problem appears to me to be (and I don't have the answer) are the artifacts in the subject's face. They immediately draw the eye to the detriment of the rest of the image.

[Stephen]

Re: Salvaged?

Nice image and I like the old world look to it. The biggest problem appears to me to be (and I don't have the answer) are the artifacts in the subject's face. They immediately draw the eye to the detriment of the rest of the image.

I'd agree with Kurt. I tried some selective contrast enhancement and some noise reduction, but there just doesn't seem enough info there to improve it to any great degree. Perhaps with the original I might have a better chance. Are you sure you had your point of focus on the face, somehow the wall seems sharper

[Pol]

Re: Salvaged?

I think it was definitely worth the effort and it certainly does work very well.

However, I agree with what Kurt says about the artifacts in her face. I also feel the subject's face, and some of the other skin tones, is similar to the tones and textures of the wall.

I don't know how confident you are about blending several layers in PS - but I'd suggest having a go at processing the subject and the background on separate layers. That would enable you to use different blends for the background and the subject - so that she'd stand 'apart' more.

As for grain - I reckon it looks good as it already is. If you did want to experiment with a 'grainy' effect - using unsharp mask on the background can sometimes produce a nice, gritty effect ... but try it out on yet another layer so that a) you can bin it if you overdo it or b) you can adjust the layer transparency before flattening the layers.

Hope that gives you some ideas ...... and an excuse for more PS fun.

Pol

[Tinka]

Re: Salvaged?

Thanks Kurt and Stephen,
I will post the original color version, Point of Focus? I'm not sure this image was a grab shot as there were a lot of people passing to and through and milling about so I had to take a grab shot as the opportunity arose. and then the damn flash failed to fire....

[Tinka]

Re: Salvaged?

Many thanks Pol, I will give your sugestions a go on a copy image, hey it sure is a great big learning curve.

[Archangel]

Re: Salvaged?

Dave,

I do like your photo very much. What bothers me is the grainy noise ion the woman and mostly on her face. If I had the original shot in some moderate size, then I could probably do something more effectively than in the size the shot is supplied.
If you post later the original version, I will have a look at it an see what I can do.
I repeat that this is a very good photo according to my taste.


George

[vlarcombe]

Re: Salvaged?

Hi Tinka,

Certainly worth the effort. I can't add much to what has already been said but I suspect the reason that the wall seems sharper and has fewer artifacts is that it has a better exposure. It's unfortunate (in terms of trying to recover the image) that the ladies face is in shadow. I think that the flash failing has made for a more interesting image as it allows the key light coming from the window/opening behind her to add much more atmosphere than a flat "flash" image would have. In an ideal world (given time, a tripod and no other people milling about) a slower shutter speed would help with the exposure and allow the wheel (and probably the hands) to blur adding some sense of movement. (That's easy to say sitting here and not behind the shutter ).

Where was the picture taken?

Vernon