An image similar to the kite flyers

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Here's an image, posted today to usenet, that is similar to the kite flyers, in that it has the problem of being underexposed due to a bright background.

For now, see what can be done with just curves.
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/5490046_o37yZ

[mikemeister_admin]

Still an odd picture.GregM

[mikemeister_admin]

Only curves - very tall order
My objective was to colour the sky & sea, with the people taking least priority.
Did a Lab rendition - twice in CM, but I wanted more red in the sky
So I slightly cheated in doing a crazy Man from Mars - by Equalising the a&b channels.

I met one problem.  When I pinned for the skin tones, I then wanted to unlock the points on the curve without loosing there positions.  Is there a way of doing that - I had to just delete the pin and use HueClocks instead.

[ggroess]

RE: the unlucking of the skin tone pin.

You can change the mode of the pin from the right click menu. 
If your choice is not on the menu you could right click on the point and set "mark" to mark the spot.

My goals were to make the people more "normal" and still have some sky color.  I did not do anything about the noise....

Greg

[imported_ganna]

I lightened the picture in the RAW converter before going into LAB in CM sharpened and treated noise with Neat Image. Greg yours looks better than mine, but I was trying to retain a little blue in the sky while at the same time get reasonable skin tones.

[ggroess]

I can see why people want to retain the blue sky effect but to me it just did not seem right, plus it kind of forces some changes on you that push the image around and make the skin tones hard.

It is a very subjective image as well as the kite flyer's..

These are great lessons in exercising your artistic expression.  If there is a finite goal listed you are restrained....if not, have at it and bring all your talent to bear on the image.

I sometimes fear that people want to please the teacher sometimes and try to correct it to "My Standards"  I think everyone can bring their corrections to the table and that I might just as well be wrong at least half time....

Greg