Help with exposure correction please

A

Ali

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Edit My Images
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I am having a bit of difficulty 'seeing' or knowing which is the 'better' exposure when the picture overall is a darker one. :'(

Here is the original. It's a shot taken in the evening light and the orange tone on the original is how it was more or less. I know it is underexposed, but I quite like it all the same. I use a mixture of DPP and elements.



Exposure examples Original by PixAli, on Flickr

I check the levels. If I bring the right hand slider in a little, dampen the highlights a bit and lighten the shadow I get this


Exposure examples1 by PixAli, on Flickr

If I do an Elements 'auto levels' this is what is given to me


Exposure examples3 by PixAli, on Flickr

And finally, if I bring the slider to the edge of the histogram and up the shadow a bit more I get this


Exposure examples4 by PixAli, on Flickr

BUT which one is 'better' or the most acceptable? :bonk:

Maybe none of them is there yet. :help::help::help:
 
I guess that is part of my confusion. Is subjective preference the most important? I could say which I prefer, but what would be the most "technically correct" exposure for this picture? Or, are they all close enough (not all pictures are and maybe this one isn't) that in this case preference is the deciding factor?

Thanks for taking the time to comment.
 
From my own seekings to understand, whats technically correct can be ambiguous in itself.

Personally I prefer sharply defined pictures, and dont like blurry ones, but blurry ones can still be considered technically correct by those who like blurry pictures - do you see where Im coming from on this.

Technically correct is meaningless I guess, you like a picture or you dont, your audience like a picture or they dont - you will never satisfy everyone all of the time thats the problem - also the reason why I gave up worrying about it - Im not a professional so dont have to sell pictures to live, so just try to create what I like.

Of the ones you did I like the last two equally, shadows have been lightened and a nice colour tone to the photo.
 
:plusone: I agree with mystery 57, as long as you like your work then don't worry about it
 
Thanks for your help. I'll stop worrying about the tecnicality of pictures now.
 
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