How to "light" parts of a building in Photoshop?

<p>I was in London last week and took the attached photos of Westminster and Big Ben. Unfortunately part of Westminster's façade is NOT lit, leaving a large dark square in the middle of my photos. </p>

<p>I have 2 photos that I really like and am wondering if there is a way to "light" this part in post. I tried the clone tool in Lighten mode, copying from other parts of the building that were well-lit. It looks like it might work but before embarking on an extensive retouching journey, I prefer to tap into the collective wisdom and expertise of this community to see if there is a more effective way of doing it... </p>

<p>Cheers!<br>

-CJK</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17778841-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="406" /></p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17778840-lg.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Originals: </p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17778838-md.jpg" alt="_DSC2996" width="680" height="471" border="0" /></p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17778836-md.jpg" alt="_DSC2983" width="680" height="428" border="0" /></p>

Make two exposures or failing that process your raw files two ways so you get one with natural looking exposure for most

of the photo and the other where most of the photo looks too bright but the "dark area" looks the way you want it to.

 

Open both files in Photoshop, select all of the normal exposed one and copy it .

 

Paste the copy over the overly bright one.

 

Create a black mask on the top layer , make an all white brush (255,255,255) brush and paint in the mask to reveal the

area you want to be brighter. You might want to play with blend modes as well.

<p>I like the first one with the two central towers in darkness and the street lamp in front, it seems to me to add a sense of drama and mystery to the image. I would leave it as it is, if you try to lighten the towers, what about the light trails through them?</p>

<p>I have been taking photos of Westminster Palace and Big Ben for many years.The corner tower is NEVER lit.Your photo will look unatural if you try to light it up.concentrate in processing the rest of the photo.</p>

<p>Ellis: <br>

My goal was to show the dark building as if being "lit" in a similar way to the neighboring façades, so just developing an Ev + 2 version of the raw and "painting that" into the areas I want "lit" would not work as the hues are NOT similar (I tried). This could work though if I can find a way to have the overexposed version give me exactly the same hues... Not sure how to do that. I played a bit with WB but that was too imprecise. </p>

<p>John: <br>

You are right, I think retouching the image taken from the bridge (image 1, which is a crop of image 3), would be a nightmare with all the light streaks, </p>

<p>Harry: <br>

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know that. I've been fairly regularly to London for work but never took the time to actually visit properly and take photos. </p>

 

There are a few ways to make a light.

 

make a blank layer above your image

on the blank layer use a brush at zero hardness

paint black in the area where you want lit

on the same layer, change the color to white and paint over the black

change the layer blend to overlay or softlight, adjust the opacity, move the layer around to yor liking

Try this whole procedure with a different color over the black. play and experiment to find the effect you like

<p>Just a minor point - That's not Big Ben, that's the clock tower. Big Ben is the bell inside.</p>