help with a sky

[kimberley]

I had a session with a family, it was raining, and the sky was that grey bright sky, I ended up over exposing the sky...

How can I bring back the sky to give it some definition? Or is this a recycle bin shot?

I know this isnt a great shot, compostion wise..just looking to improve blown icky skies...

[JohnT]

In PS... I took your image, duplicated the Background layer, changed mode to Multiply (Layer 1), then duplicated that layer (Layer 2). Then I merged Layer 2 into Layer 1, added a Vector Mask, and painted back everything but the sky. Here is the result (it was quick so it isn't perfect):

[Daniel Bates]

My version (duplicate layer, levels, and a layer mask):

[riteflyt]

well here is the best I can do,



I hope you like it.

[erisian pope]

I used the magic wand and selected the sky and whatever settings I had successfully got the whole sky. I then created a new layer and set a layer mask using my selection. I flood-filled the layer with a turquiose blue color then set the layer blending mode to color burn and dropped the opacuity to 80%. I then gaussian blurred the layer mask a little then hand-edited the borderline between the sky and trees and people's heads. I then duplicated the layer a couple times and changed the flood-fill color. With each layer being at 80% this allowed me to fine-tune the sky color.

Here's the result.



Does the result look at all plausible? I would love critical feedback! I am still coming up with strategies like this and would love to fine-tune my process.

I can share the PSD if you want. Let me know and I'll email it to you or something. It's only ~600k.

[rams]

3 words...black and white.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by rams

3 words...black and white.

Heck, that works better than any of the color versions. Good idea!

[kadac00]

If you can't fix it, fake it...

[Finepixdude]

Just learning like the rest..

[akimartymar]

Best thing I've found for a blown sky is this. Get a photo of a nice blue sky. Acutally, it's good to have a good variety of skies. Use the magic wand to select the blown sky on a duplicate layer then delete. Now take your blue sky and move it to the image you're working on. Place it between the two layers you already have and align it to "fit" correctly. Next, create a layer mask on the sky and select the gradient tool. You want to use the the gradient that goes from black to transparent. Then make the gradient on the layer mask near the skyline. That should let some of the original sky show through and blend to the new sky. Then just adjust the opacity of that layer until you get what you like. I'll post an example when I get home to my computer.

[akimartymar]

Here's my example. This took me less than 2 minutes.

[erisian pope]

Martin, that's really excellent!

[DJ.]

Boy, I'm late to this one...

[Donb10]

Made a new layer, used the shadow & highlight filter, then used the gradient tool set to foreground to transparent, changed the blending mode to softlight, added a layer mask to paint the faces back to normal.

[kimberley]

martin that is awesome......I need that sky...lol....thanks for all your plays...they are greeat!