Correcting overexposed footage , please help?

C

Cieloent

Well-known member
I believe the lack of a Fader ND and bouncing light onto a subject resulted in me having overexposed footage. The lens was opened in order for the subject to look properly which resulted in the backgrounds being "blown out" and severely over bleached.

Is there anyway through color correction, plugin or tricks that experienced videographers use to help with this problem at all once your footage is in post? Even if it can corrected just a little bit I would be happy.........


Any comments / suggestions are welcome as I would like to learn from my mistakes.


Thanks
 
The problem with overexposure is that if the information is gone (as in "blown out"), there's nothing to get back. It's just gone.

Certainly you can try using color-correction (3-Way CC in FCP or similar) to bring the overexposed levels down, and if there is information there, you can get some of it back. Chances are you'll also have to play with the other controls (balance/curves, saturation) to even things out.

But like I said, if the information isn't there, there won't be much you can do.
 
Stephen Mick said:
The problem with overexposure is that if the information is gone (as in "blown out"), there's nothing to get back. It's just gone.

Certainly you can try using color-correction (3-Way CC in FCP or similar) to bring the overexposed levels down, and if there is information there, you can get some of it back. Chances are you'll also have to play with the other controls (balance/curves, saturation) to even things out.

But like I said, if the information isn't there, there won't be much you can do.
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If you are filming a subject of "darker skin" ( black ) how would you properly expose them + the sky/background ?

This seems to be my problem I am having :embarasse
 
Stephen's right about the loss of information. BUT if you're using FCP there is a plugin that MIGHT help, depending on how bad things are blown out. I have used it with some success in the past. It's called Captain's Blowout Fixer from Patrick Sheffield. If it's very bad, though, this might not help.
 
In my (limited) experience in shooting darker-skinned people, there's not necessarily a "difference" in exposure/lighting than with any other skin types. Outdoors, the key is to properly fill or bounce some reflected light to create the proper exposure.

Hopefully someone with more experience handling this issue will chime in as well.
 
Amr Rahmy said:
you know you can put any filters in front of the lens, right?

post a still?
Click to expand...

"you can put a filter" in front of a lens , please further explain
Also I cannot post pictures from the actual footage as I am working ( just started) for a company and this material cannot be public due to the artist of nature.

I am basically acting as a b/c cam on a music video shoot and always provide good material for the level we are working on. I obviously want to get better so I can continue to grow and this is why I reach out to the community.

Thanks

Blaine said:
Stephen's right about the loss of information. BUT if you're using FCP there is a plugin that MIGHT help, depending on how bad things are blown out. I have used it with some success in the past. It's called Captain's Blowout Fixer from Patrick Sheffield. If it's very bad, though, this might not help.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your time and experience I will definitely look into this as it looks like a great tool that I can use in this current situation I am in.


Stephen Mick said:
In my (limited) experience in shooting darker-skinned people, there's not necessarily a "difference" in exposure/lighting than with any other skin types. Outdoors, the key is to properly fill or bounce some reflected light to create the proper exposure.

Hopefully someone with more experience handling this issue will chime in as well.
Click to expand...


Thank you as well, the problem is though if I have 20 people in front of the camera how can I properly "bounce light" so that everyone can look good? Sure I can catch the main performer but the extras and background people just do not look that good. I fully understand that on a "true professional" shoot we would have huge lights everywhere and people solely working on lighting but working with local artist on a limited budget there really isn't enough money to hire people who solely have lighting mastered. So we try to bounce light/ diffuse light as we can but it is very difficult.
 
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