Can these shadows be removed?

[coalfire]

Could anyone have a look at this picture and tell me if it can be saved and how? I have Paintshop Pro CX3 and Photoshop CS3 installed and a copy of lightroom somewhere but am a complete novice at using them.

Thanks in advance

 

[AliB]

Short answer is no.

There is way too much dynamic range between the shadows and higlights and they are also right on the most important part of the image, peoples faces.

One of those occasions where you need to get the lighting right in camera because it honestly can't be rescued (not in any way I know how anyway)

 

[coalfire]

Thought that may be the answer, most the other pictures taken during the meal were fine as I got the characters and family to stand where i wanted them, unfortunatly Pooh being a portly chap couldn't fit at the othe side of the table and me being in my chair was limited to where I could fit too.

Ah well will have to go back again next year and try again

 

[tiler65]

Probably too hard to do but just a five minute play with the channels and trying to lift the shadows and lessen the highlights.

 

[whiteflyer]

Your really going to struggle with this one, but if you have a RAW version then get a trail version of DxO Optics Pro 6 as this does a very good job using the highlight priory and hdr filters.



A quick PSE 8 adjustment to your jpeg.

 

[coalfire]

Hi guys those edits are both much better than the original, unfortunately my camera wont allow shooting in raw so that's no good. Now I just have to try and reproduce your efforts for myself.