Merry Go Round

[mikemeister_admin]

Had some trouble getting the upper tier of animals lighter.L in LAB just seemed to soak out color.I used brightness,then LAB,finally RGB to take out a slight yellow cast.GregM

[ggroess]

Greg,

I think you might be making too much out of this image...
Try this....

Mark a point on the curve in the deep shadows at about 9 or 10 and then move that point up on the L curve to about 40.  It will totally wash out the color but then you can use the saturation slider to bring the color back.  I went as far as 2.00 on the slider to get the color back.

Play around a bit just in LAB and see if you can do this. 

Shot1 = L 10
Shot2 = L10 moved to L39
Shot3 = Additional control point to bring the curve back into a good range. Plus 2.00 saturation.  Note the changes in the whites and the increase in saturation at the end.

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

Last try for this one.After following your instructions I thought the picture needed some more color so in HSB I slid the S threshold to 77.GregM

[ggroess]

Much better...
I can see details in the top of the merry go round...The color looks good...

Is there anything else you would change...Just looking for your thoughts on it as well...

You hit all of my targets for the image...Shadow details, highlight controls, saturated colors.

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

Actually my last step was a tweak to to L channel up in the range for the white horses to enhance the neck detail.P.S.I've always tried to keep the child's skin rosey.GregM

[imported_ganna]

My effort at selective cheating ;)
Ganna

[ggroess]

Ganna,

Try setting a neutral on one of the ponies...There seems to be a very ugly cast over the image....

Greg

[imported_ganna]

Greg, you are quite right, I had the neutral on the railing; looks right when on a horse

[ggroess]

much better...
Remember, White and Black can serve as effective neutrals if you have no odd colors reflecting into them...

Greg