Blueprint: How to Deal with Haze and Add Sun Flare in Photoshop

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Blueprint: all Photoshop actions shown in this Blueprint are from the MCP Fusion Photoshop action set

Question: I often get asked “How can I fix an hazy, low contrast image?”

My Answer: Add some contrast but also embrace the haze.. While editing, if the photo was too bright, decrease exposure using curves.  Or if it was hazy, yet underexposed, as is the case on this photo, brighten it up when increasing contrast.  here are the exact steps used to edit this photo.

  1. Started with the Lemonade Stand action (Lemonade Stand folder adjusted to 100% as this tremendously lightened the image and gave it a warm, sunlit feel. Inside the one click folder, I adjusted the Contrast layer to 100% and the Richen It layer to 100%)
  2. Next I used the Different Directions contrast action (opacity at 36%)
  3. Then finished with the Sunflare Left action which adds light and flare to your image (opacity left at the default 44%, I masked off the flare marks as I just wanted the top left haze)

As you can see, the photo still has haze, but we embraced the haze instead of letting it hurt our image.  Here is a guest article by Kelly Moore to help you when shooting into the sun.

Catherine-Finn-600x510 Blueprint: How to Deal with Haze and Add Sun Flare in Photoshop Blueprints Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

Photo credit: Thank you to Catherine Finn for sending in this photo.

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  1. Jennifer Fata on August 7, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Awe! Look at my princess! Love what you did with her Jodi to get her to open up, great job!

  2. MCP Actions on August 7, 2009 at 10:16 am

    She is adorable. I loved playing with her and getting these shots. I would love to know if you show her them is she smiles at them.

  3. Megan Rutherford on August 7, 2009 at 10:18 am

    AWESOME Friday Blueprint!!! Love the tips to help a shy child open up and the step-by-step editing. I normally use Take My Color Away action from Complete Workflow to get dramatic black and whites, but I’m IN-LOVE with Quickie Collection’s Vanilla Ice Cream…it’s now on my wish list! Thanks Jodi!

  4. becoming-mom on August 7, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    GREAT captures Jodi, and of course the pp is amazing (wouldn’t expect anything less!) I really appreciate the tips on interacting, that’s one thing I don’t have a lot of experience with except for with my own kid!I need to get some of your actions, I’ve been trying to do all my pp (or most) in LR so have been avoiding PS actions.. but sometimes you just have to do it!

  5. Heather Price........vanilla moon on August 7, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    These shots are amazing,considering what you had to do to get them,processed beautifully too!

  6. Penny on August 7, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Wow, difference is amazing. This is such a fun shot.

  7. Karen Baetz on August 7, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    For the black and whites, did you get that nice contrast by running the color actions first and then the Vanilla Ice Cream action? Does running color actions first and then b/w actions always increase contrast? Thanks for the great advice!

  8. MCP Actions on August 7, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    yes – color edit 1st then vanilla ice cream on top.

  9. Kayla Renckly on August 9, 2009 at 3:16 am

    These are so beautiful! What a great jumping shot!

  10. Michele Bradley on August 10, 2009 at 8:59 am

    I love the bright colors after you run your actions. Very nice. Just another reason I use them so much!

  11. Sherri LeAnn on August 15, 2009 at 5:19 am

    Amazing tips on working with a shy child – I have had problems in the past with a shy client & managed to get SOME decent shots but nothing as spectacular as this I will have to try your tricks next time around : )

  12. WP on December 31, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Again a fair post. Offer your achates

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