help on dark photo please!

[Mystery Woman]

Just seen a plea for help on a pickie, and some of you were wonderfully helpfull! I'm only just starting to use this site (only just got broadband) and I'm really pleased to be joining such a nice group.
Can any one help me with this photo, I'm doing an album for my son & his wife, of their wedding. This photo is from their honeymoon, and I'd like to add it at the back. I've tried myself in Paintshop Pro, but I'm not very good, and although I managed to select them and lighten them, when I printed it out it didn't look any better! Hoping there's a good Samaritan out there who can help. Thanks
Hev

[ibecks]

Was it taken on a mobile phone?

Here's a version using the Photoshop fill-flash technique (create a new layer, fill with white, change to Soft Light blending mode and lower the opacity), but you're left with a lot of red and green artifacts. I know Photoshop CS2 has a reduce noise filter which might help, but I don't have access to CS2 right now.

[Mystery Woman]

No it wasn't a phone camera, but their digital camera is only 2megapixels. It looks much better than my effort so thanks very much! I'm only just starting to experemient with phot manipulation, so I've a lot to learn Thanks very, very much
Hev

[Sharon NI]

Hi, I hope you dont mind me asking... where do i find the Photoshop fill-flash technique? i have adobe photoshop been looking around for it and cant seem to find it and the fill white... when i choose fill layer there is no white colour to chose?

[kate8679]

i choose 'new adj. layer' then 'gradient map' then change it to soft light - not sure if its same as ibecks meant but works for me! :)

[lukasmummy]

Is this what you meant?
I just lightened the shadows.

[ibecks]

Hi, I hope you dont mind me asking... where do i find the Photoshop fill-flash technique? i have adobe photoshop been looking around for it and cant seem to find it and the fill white... when i choose fill layer there is no white colour to chose?

You just create a new layer, then choose white as the foreground colour at the bottom of the tool palette and use the paint bucket tool to fill that layer with white. You then change the layer's blending mode (drop-down menu in the top left of the layer palette) to 'Soft Light'. This will probably quite a harsh effect, so you need to lower the opacity (top right of layers palette) to create a more subtle effect.

There are loads of ways to do the same thing in Photoshop, which is why every time someone asks how to do something we all respond with a slightly different answer. Any way is fine as long as you're happy with the end result. :)