Polarizer or photographer????

[carrbowl]

So I got an extremely short vacation to Canada and am just now getting to look at the photos. I am trying to figure out where my problem is...I used a polarizer and noticed the clouds look beautiful, the the scenes seem to be dark. So do I have camera settings wrong, or do I just need to do some pp to get it right? Do I have to seperate the sky from the ground and adjust them individually? I need some enlightment for the day please???

[KdLaneJr]

I wouldn't panic yet. Spend some time post processing a copy of the image. Start with your white point and black point in levels, then decide whether you want to use curves in an adjustment layer or whether you want apply a layer mask to separate the building from the sky first.

The image seems to have a heavy blue tint. While that is desirable in the sky, the rich greens and browns generated by a polarizer seem to be missing. Perhaps adjusting hues and saturation a bit will also help.

Ken

[venchka]

You got a picture of our room!

[Digigeek]

Two minute edit. May or may not like it better.

[markfh]

I've been there. As a matter of fact, my initials are in the sidewalk leading into the parking area...

Oh, what KD said...

[Digigeek]

Whoops. Here it is.

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

I wouldn't panic yet. Spend some time post processing a copy of the image. Start with your white point and black point in levels, then decide whether you want to use curves in an adjustment layer or whether you want apply a layer mask to separate the building from the sky first.

The image seems to have a heavy blue tint. While that is desirable in the sky, the rich greens and browns generated by a polarizer seem to be missing. Perhaps adjusting hues and saturation a bit will also help.

Ken

I have tried curves and when I do that, the landscape looks great but the sky is washed out almost to white. Thus the question, is this normal with the polarizer?? Also I have noticed with alot of the photos their is a very heavy blue tint, again, I'm guessing the polarizer, am I guessing correctly?? I have been playing quite a bit, as lots of the photos have this issue. I have tried most things, but not hue/sat. I'll try that next--if the storm doesn't hit first!!

[RaymondShay]

all your data's still there...



Oops. I misunderstood the question. Yes, ths is normal, depending on your metering settings. If you have a total averaging metering set then this:




is what the camera sees, which is within range. That is, the entire scene averaged...

On a scene like this use a spot metering; although the sky would be blown... (danged if you do, danged if you don't..)

But the polarizer had little to do with this issue....

[carrbowl]

So who would like to do the same to the other 100 photos????

[rogerfsmith]

The problem is the exposure. It looks like it was exposed for the sky. Your meter probably got fooled because of the amount of sky in the shot. How did you meter the shot? It can fixed somewhat in Photoshop. Were you shooting RAW or in JPG. If RAW you'll have a lot more to work with in salvaging the shot. You are at least 1 1/2 stops off on the exposure on the building. I did a screen capture of the shot and did a 30 second fix in Photoshop but I didn't know what color the building should bee so I guessed. Here is a corrected shot



Note that the sky stays the same. I think it could go even lighter on the building however.

Cheers,
Roger

[CaptainTom]

HOw much do your want...??

[venchka]

This might help give y'all some idea of what the place looks like.



In the original photo posted by carrbowl, Lisa & I spent two wonderful nights in one of the corner rooms to the left of the low building, behind the fir tree, 4 or 5 windows down from the eaves.

[KdLaneJr]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I have tried curves and when I do that, the landscape looks great but the sky is washed out almost to white. Thus the question, is this normal with the polarizer?? Also I have noticed with alot of the photos their is a very heavy blue tint, again, I'm guessing the polarizer, am I guessing correctly?? I have been playing quite a bit, as lots of the photos have this issue. I have tried most things, but not hue/sat. I'll try that next--if the storm doesn't hit first!!

Take a look at the tutorial series that BlueHour posted here in the post processing section. It has more than you need for what you want to do, but will give you an idea of how to add that power to the power of curves.

Curves is a tool that is often misused, or at least that is what I learned at a seminar I went to earlier this year. Before attending that seminar I (apparently) never used curves the right way. When you use it in conjunction with an adjustment layer and a layer mask you'll be amazed at the control you have.

Give it a try (a chance) and see how things turn out.

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

Take a look at the tutorial series that BlueHour posted here in the post processing section. It has more than you need for what you want to do, but will give you an idea of how to add that power to the power of curves.

Curves is a tool that is often misused, or at least that is what I learned at a seminar I went to earlier this year. Before attending that seminar I (apparently) never used curves the right way. When you use it in conjunction with an adjustment layer and a layer mask you'll be amazed at the control you have.

Give it a try (a chance) and see how things turn out.

I'll give it a try...thanks...

[barP]

that's a classic case of dynamic range overrun. you can either have the sky or the foreground, but not both. sort of like your options being fast, good, and cheap....pick two.

but, as has been pointed out, you can use a blend of two images to solve your problem.

if you want to fix it at shoot, however, a split neutral density filter is a good bet.

wp.