Skip to main content
O
Oleg Lozovoy
Known Participant
October 3, 2021
Question

How to precisely restore clipping highlights using several exposures?

  • October 3, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 614 views

Hi everyone! This issue is quite common to architectural photographers who shoot interiors in daylight conditions only (no flash, no artificial lighting). So we have one shot properly exposed to see all the details in the interior (and overexposed windows). And another shot properly exposed for the windows (to show the view from the window). The difference in exposure between two shots can be 3-4 stops so it's quite tricky to combine them together. I do understand that I shoud use layer mask in Photoshop. The question is how to make final image look more natural and don't kill too much time on it? Also I dont' like using HDR merging in Lightroom as it is just not accurate in some scenarios. Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

L
Lumigraphics
Legend
October 4, 2021

You need to learn how to use Luminosity masking. I'd check on YouTube for tutorials.

    O
    Oleg LozovoyAuthor
    Known Participant
    October 4, 2021

    Yes! It's something that Jeff Arola suggested above. It seems that it may work for me. Thanks a lot!

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 4, 2021

    You can try these steps:

     

    1. put the darker image on top

     

    2. load the luminosity of the ligher image (layer) by going to the channels panel and Ctrl (Cmd) clicking on

        the RGB(composite) channel

     

    3. use that selection to add a layer mask to the darker image (top layer)

     

    4. go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and adjust to taste while watching for halos

        where the dark and light areas intersect.

     

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 4, 2021

      Is "no flash" a matter of policy and principle? If not, a careful bounce flash will always look more natural, not to mention cut total time spent down to a fraction. It would certainly make your life easier in this case.

       

      I'd post an example, but it's early morning here and not enough daylight yet 😉

       

      If I couldn't use flash in this case, I'd start with 3 exposures minimum, and first of all see how far I could push the middle exposure with ACR highlight and shadow recovery (you need to shoot raw files). Only then would I use the two other exposures to fill in where absolutely necessary.

       

        O
        Oleg LozovoyAuthor
        Known Participant
        October 4, 2021

        Some clients want to get photos without using a flash or any artificial lighting. It is also a basic requirment in top magazines about interiors and design like Architectural Digest. I understand that using a flash will make my life much easier:)

         

        I usually shoot such high contrast scenes with a three different exposures using bracketing mode. I agree with your point on editing middle exposure first. But the question remains the same. How to blend in a darker exposure (for the windows) and get a natural look witout killing too much time on it?

        L
        Lumigraphics
        Legend
        October 4, 2021

        Pick two:

        Cheap

        High quality

        Quick

         

        Buying a camera with a higher dynamic range sensor (right now, Sony seems to lead the pack on that particular characteristic) will help, and spend some time learning how to use Luminosity masking. Its by far the easiest way to do these composites.

        Bojan Živković11378569
        Community Expert
        Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
        Community Expert
        October 4, 2021

        With those particular shots I will tryt with layer mask and perhaps opacity then with some minor adjustments in Camera Raw filter. When you have areas easy to select or to create layer mask as in this case try with simplest technique you can think of, do not overthink problem. In this case, I think you can easily create mask using dark - underexposed image/shot.

        O
        Oleg LozovoyAuthor
        Known Participant
        October 4, 2021

        What did you mean by 'easy to select areas'? I don't think we have any easy to select areas on this photos which can help seamlessly merge them together.

        Stephen Marsh
        Community Expert
        Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 4, 2021

        At least a 5 bracket exposure would give you the room that you may need in raw camera format. You can stack the files to layers, create a smart object and use the "mean" stack blending mode for an average. Then selectively blend in single exposures as required. It has been years since I have looked, however, I used to like tools such as Enfuse, Enblend etc for a more natural look than is common with tone mapping found in some other tools. You could also blend in a HDR tone mapped image into images.

         

        This is of course slow when you have a number of shots, whether using Photoshop or 3rd party tools.

        O
        Oleg LozovoyAuthor
        Known Participant
        October 4, 2021

        Not sure if I understand the editing process you described here.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices