Localized Image Enhancements in Photoshop, Part 3

I have always liked to modify small sections of images to enhance the overall balance. In this article we look at how to do this in Photoshop.
Go back to Part 2.

Another Infrared

Here we minimize the steps as I think you will have the hang of it now from the above.
Our starting image is interesting but needs a bit of work. Doing a pretty extreme levels moves the sky, especially in the top right, where I want it. With the hard horizon I use the selection tools to select the entire bottom of the image from the horizon and fill with black, so I only have the extreme effect in the sky and distant land. I then paint in to the distant land area and across the foreground to unify the image and to get the tonal focus where I want.
In these examples I’ve stuck with just using Levels but all the other adjustments will be suitable for some image used in this way. I’ve also made the effects more extreme so they are easy to see. When you work on your own screens you can be much more subtle and still successfully use these techniques.

Localized Image Enhancements in Photoshop

Localized Image Enhancements in Photoshop

Localized Image Enhancements in Photoshop

Localized Image Enhancements in Photoshop

I hope from this three part series that you have gained an understanding of how to move beyond enhancements to the whole image to crafting you image piece by piece.

View part 4 of this series of articles.

Scroll to Top