Merging two exposures

[Neon Rosell II]

Here’s a technique to handle black and white subject, merge two exposures together.

1. expose for the whites
2. expose for the blacks
3. merge the two photos as below

I’ll teach you guys how to do it if you stop posting your photos from here on till I get back..hehehe

Tail, bill, casque, part of the face and tree have a lot of blow areas on the original photo.

Unposted photo of Palawan Hornbill taken Dec. 19, 2008, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

40D + 600mm L IS, f6.3, 1/125 sec, ISO 400, manual exposure, Tripod-Gimbal support.


Here's the original unprocessed cropped and re-sized photo

[Dennis Alfaro]

Looks like it is a great technique Neon. it really improved .
is this technique similar to an HDR where in you merge different exposures?
but am interested in learning your technique

[Neon Rosell II]

Jan 3, 2010 7:47:45 GMT Dennis Alfaro said:

Looks like it is a great technique Neon. it really improved .
is this technique similar to an HDR where in you merge different exposures?
but am interested in learning your technique

No, not HDR ;D. I tried HDR but the colors become unnatural. Much simpler than that.

[alainpascua]

Whew, so that's it, Neon! How do we do it?

Can you please teach us and show the step by step procedure? Can you improve further the picture of Balicassiao using this technique? The original file can be downloaded at alainpascua.smugmug.com/Birds-by-Location/Birds-in-Negros-Oriental/8906743_x7EkV#754428034_iaqMv-O-LB

I guest your original picture is what Rey always says as shooting a bit to the right, somehow quite overexpose so the details can come out in the processing, better than underexposed. Did I get that right?

[Neon Rosell II]

Jan 3, 2010 10:32:28 GMT @alainpascua said:

Whew, so that's it, Neon! How do we do it?

Can you please teach us and show the step by step procedure? Can you improve further the picture of Balicassiao using this technique? The original file can be downloaded at alainpascua.smugmug.com/Birds-by-Location/Birds-in-Negros-Oriental/8906743_x7EkV#754428034_iaqMv-O-LB

I guest your original picture is what Rey always says as shooting a bit to the right, somehow quite overexpose so the details can come out in the processing, better than underexposed. Did I get that right?

Hi Alain,

Your photo has sound technicals already and great as is, I guess all other manipulation is relative to the one who's doing it. Anyway, here's my interpretation using the same technique as above. By using different brush softness and opacity I was able to get rid of the blown white and increase the contrast a bit. Hope you like it.

I would still say getting the exposure spot on would save you a lot of misery later on. ;D

[alainpascua]

Wow, this is superb, Neon! It's definitely better than the one I processed. I love the ridding out of the blown white area and the increase in contrast! Hope you can teach me this technique. Thanks!

[Ronnie Dominguez]

Hi,
There might be a Photoshop plugin or script for fixing blow areas. I have one but for GIMP not PS. Sorry i dont know how to use PS. How about trying the magic wand and use curve and levels and others on the fuzzy select areas of the wand? Will this work on PS?

[Ding Carpio]

Okay, okay. Enough suspense, already, Neon! Teach us the workflow.

I promise not to post anymore La Mesa birds til you come back.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

I promise not to post any bird images until Neon arrives
I promise not to post any bird images until Neon arrives
I promise not to post any bird images until Neon arrives
I promise not to post any bird images until Neon arrives
I promise not to post any bird images until Neon arrives

Why oh why did my elementary school chalkboard didn't support copy and paste!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Okay, expose for the lights and expose for the darks.. check. The merge part is where I am lost.

[Dennis Alfaro]

Neon is here but forgot to ask him last sunday at Candaba ;D

[Eric Patdu]

Would like to learn the magic too.

[Neon Rosell II]

Here's another instance where you can apply this technique - under exposed shots.

When I first saw, on my camera screen, that I captured a Chestnut-cheeked Babbler in the open and it was under exposed with an OOF head,
5DM2 + 600 mm L f4 IS + 2x Kenko TC, f8, 1/320 sec, ISO 640, manual exposure in available light, Tripod-Gimbal support.


I knew this was a special shot, this was the only shot (out of several Gb) I got of this species out in the open, when, for a split second it perched on an open branch and I was able to squeeze the shutter, I realized I need to do something to get it more presentable.

After applying the same work flow as above and doing a double pass of USM on the head after which a good application of contrast, I got this end product.


C&C would be highly appreciated..