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How to create the perfect exposure

What you'll need Photoshop 7/CS2/CS2
What you'll learn How to use a layer mask, the Gradient Tool and adjustment layers
It only takes 20 minutes

For successful landscape photography, it’s important to capture a balanced, wellexposed picture with detail in both the shadow and highlight areas. However, this isn’t always easy, particularly in high-contrast lighting conditions.

Traditionally, in these challenging circumstances, photographers used a graduated Neutral Density filter (ND grad) but they can be expensive and may not give enough filtration in high-contrast conditions. Thankfully, Photoshop offers a solution, but before working in the software, it’s crucial to capture the two images correctly.

Image capture

Ideally you should use a tripod to ensure that the camera stays in the same position for each shot. If a tripod isn’t available, use a monopod, brace yourself against something, or, at the very least, take a firm stance.

Because these sample shots were captured using a monopod they don’t line up perfectly, but luckily they can still be blended because the main element (the tree trunk) that connects the lighter foreground with the darker sky, does line up. Try spot metering, as this will more accurately determine the exposure difference – in this case, the ground and the sky. And finally, remember to vary the shutter speed to adjust the exposure, as changing the aperture will affect the depth of field.

Now, start up your Photoshop and follow this step by step for imaging success.

1. Start > Load and Move After loading up Photoshop, open up both image files (if you have purchased the magazine, you should be albe to find the image files on the CD with issue 49). Position the captures next to one another and select the Move Tool (V) to click and drag the darker exposure on top of the lighter image.	2. Line it up To make sure that the tree trunks line up, adjust the Opacity of the darker image on the Layers Palette so you can see both layers. Use your keyboard cursers for fine positioning. Crop the excess off the background layer and move Opacity back to 100%.	3. Masking matters Many Photoshop users would consider that using the Eraser Tool would be the easiest way to uncover the bottom layer. However, one of the quickest, most effective and non-destructive techniques for landscapes is to use a graduated layer mask.
4. Activate layer mask Create a layer mask by clicking on the icon (white circle on dark square) in the Layers Palette. A white box should appear on top of the layer. Click on this rectangle to make sure that the mask is active. Now select the Gradient Tool (G) from the Tools Palette.	5. Smooth Blend Make sure Foreground and Background colours are set to black and white, respectively. Click and drag on a section of the image where you’d like the blend to start and finish. This uncovers the lighter foreground and seamlessly merges the darker sky into the image.	6. Brush it away Even though the foreground and background areas of this image seem properly exposed, the top part of the tree’s too dark. To lighten this area, first enlarge a section of the tree, choose a small, soft brush and rub
7. Brush control For finer control, adjust the brush Opacity and use a Selection Tool to isolate the trunk and branches so that you don’t end up brushing away the perfectly exposed, darker sky as well. This enables more control than a traditional ND grad. If that were used, the top part of the tree would remain underexposed.	8. Brush it back The beauty of using a layer mask is the ability to undo any actions that were previously applied. Here the trunk of the tree looks a bit too light, so in order to darken it again using the Brush Tool, you simply need to switch the Foreground and Background colours over before you begin painting.	9. Finish> Adjustment layer Tweak Levels and Hue/Saturation by clicking on the half black and white circle icon in the Layers Palette and creating adjustment layers. These effects can be reapplied any number of times by clicking the icons on those layers. Flatten the image by going to the top menu bar and choosing Layer>Flatten Image.