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Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> Challenge 133: 'Eat, Drink, and Be Merry' (hosted by MFC and Kara) >> Challenge 133: Exhibition > edit image
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13-NOV-2006

Two Desserts!*
by Bev Brink

...for the birthday girl.
Lunch with my granddaughter

The room was dark, and lit with colored lights.
I selectively brought down highlights and blurred the background
and applied curves and slight sharpening to foreground.
It's still pretty dark, but anything more just introduces a lot of noise.
Suggestions for improving will be appreciated.

Sony DSC-V1
1/40s f/2.8 at 7.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Bev Brink 26-Dec-2006 04:33
Thanks again, bottles, for further clarifying (pun intended) your instructions. I've been using the noise reduction included with Paint Shop Pro, and altho it does allow options, I don't feel I've mastered it yet. Your helpful instruction to me and others is really appreciated. Bev
Guest 26-Dec-2006 02:09
Bev, regarding doing the noise reduction first, there's one thing I should probably make clear. A good noise reduction program or filter can usually make a pretty good distinction between noise and details in the image. So, usually noise can be removed without blurring the details. Then, you can sharpen the image without sharpening the noise. If, however, the process of removing the noise tends to blur the details you should use some form of selectivity to protect the details. It wouldn't make much sense to soften the details and then try to sharpen them :-)
Bev Brink 25-Dec-2006 22:10
Thanks, Mike and bottles. I'm sure I no longer have the original, but just your reminder about removing noise*first* will be tremendously helpful in the future.
Guest 25-Dec-2006 19:13
Wow, what a beautiful girl! And Bev, I think you did a good job of editing your image so far. * One thing to keep in mind is that if there's any chance of having a problem with noise, never sharpen before removing the noise. You probably should have removed any noise before you did anything else to this image. If you don't have some kind of noise removing filter, you might want to consider getting one. In response to Mike's invitation, I'll see what I can do and I'll put the result in the Demo folder. Nice shot, of a lovely girl, in any case!
Sony Forums Challenges25-Dec-2006 17:34
Bev, your granddaughter is a very pretty, young lady...and I really like the expressioin you captured on her face. I like the flower in her hand...and the matching floral-themed outfits here too. I think it's neat too how the plate, chair, and walls are all striped in B&W. Thanks for explaining your processing issues...I'll see if there is anything I can do with your photo. Hey, bottles, want to try working with another one too? :) Nice shot, Bev. MFC