by Jim Miotke
A graduated neutral-density filter can often save the day when you encounter extremes in contrast. However, if you did not have your ND grad when you were out photographing (or never bought one), have no fear. Help is here. With either of the following two techniques, you can "have your cake and eat it too" when it comes to a perfect, properly exposed photograph.
Using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, it's easy to get the same effect as a graduated neutral-density filter.
One common need is that you exposed a landscape that featured a bright sky and a dark landscape. Since you loved those painted hues or wisps of clouds in the sky, you exposed to keep those delightful details in the bright sky. This left the foreground dark. The camera simply could not expose for both extremes in tonality.
To lighten the foreground of an image, first, add a Curves Adjustment Layer (or a Levels Adjustment Layer since Elements doesn't have Curves).
Adjust the curve so that the foreground looks the way you want it to (ignore the rest of the image). Click OK and then select the Gradient tool; if it's not visible, click and hold the Paint Bucket tool icon. In the Tool Options bar select the first gradient on the left, the linear gradient. Then click once on the picture of the gradient on the left-hand side of the tool options bar to bring up the gradient editor:
Under "Presets," click on the third box from the left on the top row; this is the "black/white" gradient. Click OK. Then click and drag through the transition area of the image - where you want to put the "graduated" part of the filter - starting from the top. You may have to do this several times to get it right. You can then double-click on the Curves Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers Palette (or the Levels icon in Photoshop Elements) to further adjust the curve.
Alternatively, you can use a similar technique that starts the same but ends differently. Again, make the Adjustment Layer and change it so that one area looks perfect. For example, you might have a subject that has parts so overexposed they are blown out, and will render no detail in the final photo. If you notice this while photographing, you can underexpose a photo of your scene. Then, open the photo, and make an Adjustment Layer and change it until the darker shadows are nice and bright - exactly how you want them. This will cause your highlights to temporarily look blown out. No worries. Click on the Layer Mask area of the new Adjustment Layer. Paint with black color (soft brush) over the mask where you want to retain details in the highlights. You now have two layers: one a darker version of the image, one with brighter tones everywhere except the highlights. You can adjust the Adjustment Layer but grabbing the Opacity slider upper right of the layer and changing it. That is what I did for this final image here; I used Layer Masks to block out some of the adjustment I had made, and was able to get the best of both worlds. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?
To learn more about photography, explore the photography classes offered here at BetterPhoto.