Here is my entry for Image Reboot #4 the Challenge of my friend Desley from Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist.
I chose an image of a horse that I made weeks ago. This horse expression was very sad or maybe he was just exhausted. The light conditions were not on my side, as it was a very dark and cloudy day, and the horses table was equally dark. I had wished to show more of the eyes and the texture of the skin.
I used my Olympus E-M10 and a 45mm (equivalent 90mm) lens with aperture 2,5, which helped to shoot without getting too close to the horse. Every time the horse noticed my presence, it started moving a lot. Anyways, I wasn’t very happy with the photo.
Desley’s Image Reboot is the place to be to learn new techniques to rescuing photos. I will give it a try.
Here is the original photo and the steps I took while doing ‘plastic surgery’ in the photo.

What have I done?
Step 1: In LightRoom
- Cropped the image
- Increased exposure +0,85 (to soften the light)
- Increased contrast +23 (just because I love contrast)
- Decreased highlights -61 (I wanted to show the texture even more)
- Reduced shadows +100 (to bring forward the sadness of the eyes)
- Increased whites +45
- Increased vibrancy +29
Here is the result:

Step 2: In Silver Efex Pro 2. The photo was converted to Black and White. Applied preset Full Dynamics (Harsh). Below is the result.

Step 3: Editing in Sharpener Pro 3. Increased Focus

Darn, Lucile! All the details showing that were not visible in the original shot which, by the way, I thought was pretty darn wonderful. Until I saw the ‘plastic surgery.’ Very nicely done.
LikeLike
Thanks, Lois. This is the only plastic surgery I like!It really helps enhancing the photos. I am not into making it too surreal, but using editing to improve is a great advantage.
LikeLike
Nice job!! Of course I am a sucker for a cute horse…the original was nice…but I love your edits!
LikeLike
Thanks much, Sandy. Also for visiting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous reboot Lucile. I love seeing such a transformation. Great work. And you’re right, you can really notice the sadness in his eyes. He will be much happier when he rescues the heroine!!
LikeLike
Thanks my master! I am learning from you every day. Are you letting him rescue the heroine? Thats would make him so happy! xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL.
LikeLike
Nice one! Lightroom is fantastic for rescuing under exposed areas of images. Knowing this, it still blows my mind every time I see it. 🙂
LikeLike
It is true. LR is a great rescuer, and a relief, as we know we can count on it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marvelous. Again!
I simply MUST learn how to edit using ONE of these things.
Is the first image the one from Efex Pro? And just what is Efex Pro? Where do you get it?
LikeLike
Oh…one other question. How did you get your side borders as wide as they are. My side borders are very thick. I like that thickness, but it leave too little room for photos and words, so I’d like to have wider columns and more narrow side border/margins. How do I do that, Ms. Knows Everything?
LikeLike
You’re da Funny Man! And I’m no Ms. Knows Everything…
I’m not sure I got the question right. The columns of our blogs have the same width but when you look at it from the mobile, tablet or computer, they looks different. That’s all. I’d have like the same, and that’s why I’m considering to change theme to another where photos have more room.
One alternative with this current theme could be to not use right sidebars then it really enlarges the post, by setting it for full width.
You can perhaps transfer the widgets from the side bar to the bottom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh…my bad. I had my computer set to a smaller percentage, and my blog looked cramped and smaller (because it was 75% instead of 100% size). All’s well now.
LikeLike
You see, you know technology too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
hhhmmmmm?
LikeLike
Hi Badfish, a friend of mine is going to Ubud at the end of this month. She’s going to contact you via your blog to ask you some tips. Hope you don’t mind. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, cool. Badfish Travel Agency at your service here!!
LikeLike
Hahaha you’re da man. Thank you! She is renting a house in Ubud and will go on August 27th for one month. I know her from my yoga classes. She is going to do yoga and sculpt too.
I think Badifish Travel Agency is a good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool. Does she already have a house? Where is she doing yoga? I came to do yoga, haven’t done it once! I’m a very BAD fish.
LikeLike
Yes, she has a house with a pool! I don’t where she’s going to do yoga there. You’re having deep tissue massage instead. That makes you a Good Fish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Badfish. Yes, the first is the one with Silver Efex Pro.
It is a Photo editor application suited for Black and White Photography. It belongs to Google.
Here is the link: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/
It comes with a few other apps as part of the package.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lucile. I hesitate to try to download anything from here, so maybe I’ll wait till I return home.
LikeLike
Please do! Don’t touch anything!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m taking your advice yet again!!
LikeLike
Good boy!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What can I say, most things look great in black and white 🙂
LikeLike
You said it all. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really informative, Lucile. Thank you.
LikeLike
My pleasure, Tish. I’m learning to post process photos and I try to share what I find useful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The details in the photo of the horse are amazing. Your photos always are stunning. ❤
LikeLike
Thanks Colleen, your encouragement and generous words mean a lot to me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s interesting to see the process you used in editing the photo (if that’s the right word). I love horses, and it makes me sad that this one looks so sad. I love the photo, though. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, this horse was so sad and that touched me. I’m not a native English speaker so I maybe saying the wrong thing, but I guess is correct to say photo editing or post processing. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Horses are awesome! You are an amazing photographer! Love the editing.
LikeLike
Thank you so much. I’m humbled by your comment. I’m just an enthusiast, still learning photography. I’m happy that you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
wonderful “plastic surgery” that got the right details enhanced
LikeLike
Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous editing, Lucile! He’s a great subject. He looks sad and hungry!
LikeLike
Great. I like your new result.
LikeLike
Thank you!!
LikeLike