Need some help in editing.

[Nate]

Hi,

This weekend I have shot my very first concert, and I came up with some pretty good shots and some that I dont know how to edit.

I uploaded to wetransfer.com a RAW shot that I took, to see what I am talking about.

http://we.tl/KHw2L0lZru

My main problem is that I have really big contrast between some highlights and shadows. On the skin of the singer you can even see clearly the line how it goes from highlight to shadow.
Is that any way to save it?

I would like to have the final result in B&W.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Nathan

[ksuweh]

I'm no PS expert, but this is what I come up with.

Contrast -50
Clarity +100
Saturation -100

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Hi,

This weekend I have shot my very first concert, and I came up with some pretty good shots and some that I dont know how to edit.

I uploaded to wetransfer.com a RAW shot that I took, to see what I am talking about.

http://we.tl/KHw2L0lZru

My main problem is that I have really big contrast between some highlights and shadows. On the skin of the singer you can even see clearly the line how it goes from highlight to shadow.
Is that any way to save it?

I would like to have the final result in B&W.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Nathan

What editing software do you use?  Someone could do a edit for you and explain the settings.

[Nate]

Usually I use Lightroom 4.3, but I have Photoshop too.
I tried in Lightroom and didnt get any good one.

I just want to get the light (reflector behind the singer) to be smoother.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Not knowing what it looked like to you, here is a simple edit in Lightroom done by simply clicking the preset filter called B&W look 5.
 
Grain could also be added, but I didn't.
 

[ecka]

This is definitely not the easiest file to edit 
I used Lightroom 4
crop
contrast +50
blacks -30
clarity 100
split toning: 116/100/0/189/100
sharpening: 40/1.5/15/90
noise reduction: luminance 30/0/0

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Couldn't download your original file, so I took the JPeG from ksuweh's post then took into PS

There has been a recent thread on CR regarding Nik Software plugin for PS and LR, so I tried Silver Efex Pro 2 in Photoshop -> selected Modern template and Neutral, but then just added a Control Point to the face of the singer (placed the centre of the circle on his nose, then adjusted Brightness, Contrast, Structure, Fine Structure etc.)

Basically the problem area is the two-tone shadow on the singer's face. This is precisely what Nik Software plugins are designed for - to edit localized areas of the picture without destroying the rest of the scene.

I really like the Fine Structure detail option as it allows the face to really pop-out (eyebrows, nose etc.) and is great for fixing soft focus too. Finally, I reduced the image size to make it acceptable size for upload.

I like the result.

[Nate]

Couldn't download your original file, so I took the JPeG from ksuweh's post then took into PS

There has been a recent thread on CR regarding Nik Software plugin for PS and LR, so I tried Silver Efex Pro 2 in Photoshop -> selected Modern template and Neutral, but then just added a Control Point to the face of the singer (placed the centre of the circle on his nose, then adjusted Brightness, Contrast, Structure, Fine Structure etc.)

Basically the problem area is the two-tone shadow on the singer's face. This is precisely what Nik Software plugins are designed for - to edit localized areas of the picture without destroying the rest of the scene.

I really like the Fine Structure detail option as it allows the face to really pop-out (eyebrows, nose etc.) and is great for fixing soft focus too. Finally, I reduced the image size to make it acceptable size for upload.

Thank you this looks good!

[Krob78]

  Okay, that was fun!  I made 4 different edits.  Used LR4 only, NIK only and LR4 & NIK combined on one or two...

[Krob78]

And here are the other two!