C&C photo fix

[Mooha182]

When I was in Iraq I had a photo snapped of me at night helping out the medevac crews. The photographer had strict restrictions - no getting in the way, can't get X feet from helicopter, and no flashes or lights.

Here is the original:
http://nicholascurcuru.com/images/phocagallery/Gallery/balad.jpg

I did my best with the skills I have to get rid of the hideous noise without killing too much detail that was left. Also, despite the big flood light it was still pretty dark so the pilots could see without turning off their night-vision goggles.

http://nicholascurcuru.com/images/phocagallery/Gallery/balad2.jpg

 

[myfotoguy]

It looks pretty good, what did you use to remove the noise?

Because of the conditions that the original was shot it, there is not a lot of detail to be pulled out anyway, so I think you did the best you can. Maybe some methods would get a bit more - hard to say.

 

[nickb98c]

I found that the soften tool can work with noise reduction if you use adobe. Atleast thats the only software I ever use, so it may have a different name with other programs.

 

[Live_free]

Or you can go through and get a photo of a helo at night properly exposed and copy over all the colors, which would take ages. But doable I suppose...

 

[RobContreras]

i don't know if this is what you did but if not then maybe you could try working the soldiers on a different layer that way maybe you can get rid of the noise with less softening or gaussian blur or whatever than it'd take you to fix the hole photo, that way maybe they won't look so blurry it does involve more work tho but if you're up for it.

Other than that i think it's a very nice job

 

[Mooha182]

I used the noise reduction utility as well as adjusted the strength of the red navigation strobe through some curves thing.

I am really a photoshop noob but I am learning as I learn my camera.