At a loss?

[Jimmy B]

What I was trying to do with this shot(s) was merge them and bring out the darker sky. where I am lost is the trees just left of center being above the hills in the distance, the tops are dark. what is the best approach to bring them in?
I know I have a lot to learn in PP, but at least I am willing to try and am open to suggestions.
Jimmy B
Biting off more than I can chew?

[Medley]

I'm assuming you have some version of Photoshop or elements. Best bet here is the Dodge tool (o). Set the range to 'shadows' the exposure to between 5-8%, and build the effect up gradually.

- Joe U.

[mjs1973]

I would use a layer mask for a project like this. If you can get a good selection on the tree in the original, it shouldn't be too difficult to paint them back in. The trick is getting it to look natural. If you have a lot of contrast between the branches and the sky, you should be able to get a good selection. There is a pretty effective way of making tricky selections using channels, but I don't have time to go into it now. A google search should get you started.

If you don't want to make a selection of the tree tops, I would still use a layer mask, and paint the tree tops back in using a small, soft edged brush.

[another view]

I think with the dodging tool that you'd lighten too much of the sky behind the trees. I'd do what Mike says, but maybe put the entire tree on that layer. The hardest part with the selection will be at the top, so you'll be half done anyway...

[Medley]

I experimented, and the dodge tool worked decently. I initially made a selection based on luminosity (Alt-click [mac: Option-click] the RGB channel in the channels pallette. The lightest pixels are selected more than the darker ones) then inverted the selection to select the darkest pixels most. Used the dodge tool at 5% opacity for a few passes, then deleted the selection, zoomed in and added finishing touches. Took about 2 minutes.

I'd be happy to post the result......as soon as I get Jimmy's permission, of course.

A mask might work on the original image, but the one posted wouldn't take a mask well. The background is too blended with the tree to make an accuate mask.

- Joe U.

[Jimmy B]

Thanks for all of the input and Joe for going and doing what he did. Joe please post your reworked image.
I am using PSE 5.0/Windows
Jimmy B

[Medley]

Here you go.



- Joe U.