BLOWN OUT HIGHLIGHTS

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While I love this photo that I took of a Japanese bride, I didn't realize until after that the white highlights were blown out. When this happens detail is lost, as there is no other tonal information except pure white. Pure white does not allow for any adjustments; all ability to adjust tonal values is lost.

There are a number of ways to correct for this, but one way is to do two exposures utilizing a tripod. If the subject has dark skin and is wearing very light clothing, try the following technique:

1. Ask the model to remain perfectly still.
2. Take your first image with a proper exposure of the face.
3. Reduce your exposure, and quickly take a 2nd photo exposed for the bright clothing. Make sure there are no extremely white highlights (unless you purposefully want pure white).
4. In Photoshop or another image editing program that allows you to layer a photograph, place both images together, resulting in a two-layered image.
5. Click on the Eraser tool, and start erasing either the clothing, or the face, depending on which layer is on top. Make sure the eraser is Feathered for a soft erase.
6. If you find it doesn't look right, try it again until you are confident in the process. If your tripod was sturdy, and your model was still, you should have a perfectly registered, and well exposed image.

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com

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