Can anyone offer some photo enhancement help?

[barrie]

Hi - I took a photo of a dancer. It's not a great photo but I'm partial to it. Here it is:

I think with a little enhancement it would make a very nice card. In my mind I imagine the background to be blurred and the dancer to be sharp and bright. I have PhotoShop CS and Photoshop Elements 4 but don't really know how to use them. But I gave it a whirl. Here's what my best effort gave me:

As you can see, I think the idea is good but the quality of what I ended up with is not so great. Is there anyone here that wants to take a stab at it or that can tell me how to accomplish this the right way - aside from taking a good photo to begin with that is! Thanks so much - Barrie

 

[kbnovak]

Barrie,

You did not describe your technique for doing this, so I might be repeating what you already attempted.

I would do the following:
1. Starting with your original image, make a duplicate layer.
2. Using Gaussian blur, blur the duplicate layer to your liking.
3. Working on the blurred layer, using the eraser tool to erase the blurred sections of the dancer, thereby making her sharp. You will want to experiment with the size and opacity of the brush you use to erase.
4. Finally, you can vary the opacity of the blurred layer to make the blurring more subtle.

Hope that helps.

Kevin

 

[pmcf]

I would have made a selection of the dancer, reveersed it onto a layer mask and then used the gaussian Blur - but same result.

Nice changes, Barrie!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Someday I will learn layering, and many of the PS techniques. Everytime I try I tutorial, I get lost, LOL. Sure is a great picture there, I think.

 

[murphy54]

it is a nice picture...goood work

 

[Kelly Grannell]

The pic is nice... and you need help why? You're good.

 

[fitzperry]

I would do the following:
1. Starting with your original image, make a duplicate layer.
2. Using Gaussian blur, blur the duplicate layer to your liking.
3. Working on the blurred layer, using the eraser tool to erase the blurred sections of the dancer, thereby making her sharp. You will want to experiment with the size and opacity of the brush you use to erase.
4. Finally, you can vary the opacity of the blurred layer to make the blurring more subtle.

I've tried several times to blur a background in Photoshop and have never been satisfied with the results, but I never considered varying the opacity of the blurred layer. I've also read several on-line tutorials on the subject, and none of them suggested that. Sounds like a great idea to me. Thanks!

 

[NJDad18]

I don't know what kind of camera or lens that you are using, but if you have a fast lens (2.8 or better), you will get a background blur without using photoshop. Here's an example of a gymnastics picture which I shot using a 85mm 1.8 lens. I believe that this was shot at ISO 1600 1/320 2.0.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/arone0318/AshleyFloor4_filtered.jpg[/URL]

 

[barrie]

Thanks for all the suggestions and the encouragement! Kevin, I'm going to give your suggestion a try.

The way I did it was to select the background with the magnetic lasso (not as easy to use as they make you think!), then apply the gausian blur to it. Then I selected the dancer and tried to sharpen her. I knew it wasn't the right way to go about it. Your way sounds so much easier.

I am used to working with an old microsoft program called photodraw. They don't even make it anymore but I got used to it. Photoshop is soooo different from it. I get frustrated because I can't easily do what I can do in photodraw. But photodraw is not nearly as good.

Dan, I can totally relate - layers?!?!?! Who knew photos had layers?!

NJDad18 - My camera does not have interchangeable lens. I have a Fuji S5000. I am so ready to upgrade to a real camera but can't afford to right now. Someday soon though.

OK - I'll try it again and post what I end up with. Thanks - Barrie

 

[barrie]

Well - I think it turned out much better. Thanks so much for the help. I still want to lighten her arm a bit but otherwise I am much happier with this one.

Thanks again! I learn so much from reading all the posts on these boards. Barrie