Post processing snow images

[mac2474]

I know this may be a big ask for this shot, but could this be improved any more?

EXIF:
Canon 450D
8 sec exp
18mm
f/11
ISO 800

Taken at 10 pm with ambient sodium street lighting from the front of the house

Before:

After:

The after image is a result of post procedssing the RAW file with Digital Photo Pro and then PSP X2.

 

[Squawk]

I've been playing about with this kind of thing myself, and I've come to the conclusion that it was lit by orange light so orange is how it should stay. Maybe not quite to the extreme of the original, but for me processing it to look like it was shot in normal light kinda takes away the atmosphere.

That was my conclusion after having the same issue after the last lot of snow hit anyway.

 

[mac2474]

I understand your reasoning, but I feel the orange cast takes away too much information and an orange cast is not the more natural feel I was after (plus I can't show off to my point and shoot relatives )

 

[IanFlaherty]

It depends what time you take the photo IMO and I suppose the light it was taken in. Your edit looks better to me than the original.

For example this was taken at 16:29 when it was still relatively light:

(Contrast boost, vignette correction)

Whereas this was taken at 16:43 when the light had pretty much died:

(SOOC)

Both had a custom white balance set based on a previous photo taken a few seconds/minute before. Personally I don't like the orange tint to that extent, as it's not what I see with my eyes, but I understand that if it's subtle it is more realistic.

 

[mac2474]

WOW number 2's a cracker SOOC too I like the amount of contrast there is on both shots. I've always shied away from a 1600 ISO.

 

[IanFlaherty]

Normally I would too, but I didn't fancy carrying my tripod around with me in the snow (plus I didn't realise how dark it was when I went out lol). As long as you get your exposure right the noise isn't toooo bad.

Hopefully it shows what I mean about the white balance though. Unless I was stood right under a street lamp then the snow stays white. In fact I took a shot like that and only the snow on the high trees near the street lamp was orangy, with the snow on the ground being white.

 

[mac2474]

I think you're right about the exposure. I took a series of shots at different rates, but I wasn't happy with the amount of light until I got to 8 secs (could have gone longer), it was sooo dark and the light that was available came from reflected street lights at the front of the house, nothing direct.