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Photography Question 

Richard C. Martin
 

Haze Problem


 
  White Rim Trail
White Rim Trail

Richard C. Martin

 
 
I have a problem trying to remove haze from an image. See Gallery "Clark Martin", photo #6 "White Rim Trail". I like the photo but it's ruined by the haze. I didn't have a filter when this was taken. Would a Polarizer filter have helped?

I'd appreciate any suggestions on how this photo could be improved. I use Paint Shop Pro 7, so any solution would have to be do-able with this software.

Thanks in advance.

Clark


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December 20, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member
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  Set your blacks and whites with the eye drop tools in levels. You may get to look better, but the farthest part of the background still will probably look a little washed out.
That looks like back lit mid day, 2:00. Usually not a good time, and not a good angle for that time.


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December 20, 2006

 

John P. Sandstedt
  As Gregory said, if this was taken at mid-day, well . . .

The walls to the left of the frame indicate you had as good an exposure as your centered meter could get you; the overexposed rocks in the foreground and the "white" sky hinder any adjustments of the image as a whole.

Try using the Marquis Tool to select the major point of interest - the canyon, obviously. Then try using one or more of the adjustment tools.

Another possibility, use the Magic Wand to select the bright sky. Play with the Tolerance Level, and make sure you uncheck Contiguous, to try to grab the overexposed rocks in the foreground.

Then select Inverse, to allow you to adjust "the rest of the picture" with changes to Brighness and Contrast, or even try Levels.

I never had much success with a Skylight or Haze filter in limiting/removing haze. And, I don't think a polarizer would do the trick either, although the 1.5-2.0 stop filter factor might have toned down the brightness of the foreground rocks a little.


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December 20, 2006

 

Richard C. Martin
  Hi Gregory and John,

Thanks for your suggestions. I checked the photo statistics and the shot was actually taken at 9am! Still, it looks like I'm facing the sun, can't remember for sure since this was taken in Sept/04. I'll play with it using your tips and let you know how I make out. Thanks again.


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December 21, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  Three hours before noon, two hours after, not much difference. It really dosen't take long for the sun to get high in the summer when you compare it to what time you may be used to getting up, in terms of taking pictures.
But regardless, backlit landscapes don't give you much to start with if the air isn't clear. Like after the rain or when it hasn't been dry and windy.
You could use several layers and layer mask to work on each area. I had to get rid of glare from bars at a zoo becasue of the angle of the sun at the time on a picture of a puma. But since it was an overall glare consistent on the picture, I just had to set blacks and whites with levels to get rid of it.


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December 21, 2006

 
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