Night Skies

[jenkins]

<p>Could somebody tell me the best way to darken skies, took this tonight as a test and the sky seems to not have a very uniform colour to it, if i increase the brightness it becomes very apparent and patchy.<br>

I know this must have something to do with layers and i was wondering how you might go about this as selection in the way i would go about this usually would be difficult with this picture.<br>

I applied a layer to the picture but it was overall and changed the colour of everything, i just want to darken the sky nothing else.<br>

Thanks<br>

Simon.</p>

<p><a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/gorringeman/?action=view&current=test-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/gorringeman/test-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

[chris_werner]

<p>Simon,</p>

<p>Actually I think Curves might work better for you here. Are you in Photoshop? Try moving the left quarter of the curve downward and see how that works for you.</p>

[jenkins]

<p>Hey Chris<br>

I tried Curves, but as its a nightshot i seem to start losing image on the bridge towers, very fine line, i would like to get the sky as dark as possible, it must be light pollution.<br>

I know it needs a bit of noise reduction, but this was straight out of the camera.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>An option:<br>

<br>

1: Curves - knock out the blue only (most of the sky) and then increase the Brightness<br>

<br>

2. Filter 85 at about 40% to correct the cast from the street lights.<br>

<br>

The two images are a rough only, just to test my theory – seems a plan IMO.<br>

<br>

WW</p>

<p > </p>

<div></div>

[jenkins]

<p>Thanks for the examples William, i was hoping to keep the original colour though, the second one is closer but still has a red cast to it. I played around with this picture, reduced some noise and applied a layer, then i had to increase the highlights, although it has helped the sky the lights have become a little too much.<br>

I have this problem every now and then, so i was looking for a selective way to adjust just the sky.</p>

<p><a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/gorringeman/?action=view&current=use-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/gorringeman/use-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

[William Michael]

<p><em><strong>"the second one is closer but still has a red cast to it. "</strong></em><br /><br />I think you might have misunderstood my post.<br /><br />The first image I posted was after "stage 1" just using the curves to knock out the blue as I described. <br /><br />The second image I posted was after I used the 85 filter at 40% . . .<br>

I am suggesting that playing with the "amount" at both of these two stages might work, the above images were just a rough first attempt - about one minute's work - I understood you wanted to keep the colour</p>

<p>Cheers <br>

<br />WW<br /></p>

[jenkins]

<p>I do understand William, its just doing what you said will affect things overall, i am still not very happy with the picture i put back up if i look at it closely, its only an exercise, but displaced light in the sky at night, can be a bit tricky for me in PP.<br>

Even if i could floor the Curves in the sky region it still leaves a very slight patch of difference.<br>

I suppose get it as dark as you can and clone the areas that you are happy with could be a possibility?<br>

Or get it right in the first place ;)</p>

[William Michael]

<p><em><strong>"I do understand William, its just doing what you said will affect things overall"</strong></em><br>

<br>

Got it, Thanks for the reply.<br>

<br>

<em><strong>"Or get it right in the first place"</strong></em><br>

<br>

I have been thinking about that and your earlier comment about pollution, I wonder if a Circular Polarizing Filter on the lens would have helped? <br>

<br>

If you can try that, I think an exposure bracket in 1/2 stops (-1.0 to +2.0) would be a good idea: even though you work with the RAW file, it would be good to have spread from which to chose, IMO.<br>

<br>

WW</p>

<p > </p>

 

[jenkins]

<p><em><strong>I wonder if a Circular Polarizing Filter on the lens would have helped?</strong></em><br>

Do you know that's funny you should say that, i have only recently started taking it off for night shots thinking it would kill what little light there was. I am sure i read something saying it was a bad idea, that's what made me do it.<br>

This could well be the answer and i will go back to the same spot and try that, it really does make sense.<br>

Thanks for the idea WW</p>