Input/suggestions for editing underwater photos

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adamjthompson

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Location
Bradenton, FL
# of dives
I just recently bought a point and shoot camera and christened it on our snorkeling trip to the Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. Just today, I bought Adobe Photoshop Elements to learn how to edit the photos to fix color issues, etc. The below photos are my first efforts.

I did color adjustments (mostly using the one-click tool) and increasing contrast. Any suggestions or recommendations for how I could better edit these photos?

I will paste links to the photos in sets of two (before and after):

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152764416650400&l=14d8904f2e
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152815789345400&l=192fa1d9b6

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152764424965400&l=38ad715f94
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152815788585400&l=4619bc772d

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152764428220400&l=056bcbc4e5
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152815788670400&l=5167a41375
 
I also have a point and shoot camera with a digital flash.

If a picture is "special" then I might do some work in photoshop to remove flaws. But I find that for showing to family, posting on web, etc., that often just pulling into Picasa and clicking "I am feeling lucky" does a good enough job and often is better than my clumsy photoshop when it comes to cotrast etc.
 
I have photoshop elements v11. My rather basic workflow consists of using the auto smart fix in the quick mode, then auto levels and auto contrast under the levels area of the quick menu and then the remove a color cast on the guided menu. I select several areas to find the most pleasing adjustment. The color cast works with white, midtone (grey) and black areas. Try them all in various locations. I do not know where these tools are in later versions. I will also use the tools in remove scratches and blemishes if there is some obnoxious backscatter.
 
As I said in a previous post, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements v 11. I have long been looking for an effective way to easily 'get the blue out'. At last I have found it. The trick is a Photo Filter Adjustment Layer. To use it,

1) Open your image in the editor.
2) Select Layers on the menu and select New Adjustment Layer on the drop down.
3) Select Photo Filter
4) Select OK to create the layer
5) In the photo filter box, select the drop down for filter and select deep red
6) The slider controls how dense the red filter is. Adjust it until the image looks right. Close the filter box and you are good.

The default save format for a file with layers (so you can access/edit the layers later is photoshop (PSD or PDD) format. The bad news is that PSD and PDD are not widely supported. You can opt to save as JPG but you then cannot adjust the layer later. You can edit either file later but the layer material will be incorporated into the image in the JPG format.

This method adds the equivalent effect of a red filter in front of your lens when your image is taken. This is very common in with the GoPro set and is very effective.
 
Really good photos...you must be thrilled. Im also very new to UW photography but love it. I am sure you know this already but I find getting as near as possible to the subject greatly reduces the blueness. Also I take it that your cancer does not have an option to manually adjust for white balance...my little Canon S110 does and its fab.Finally we just use the enhance option on the iPad to five photos a little va vs boom.

Just my late night ravings from the other side of the Atlantic.

Best fishes x
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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