Adventures in Photoshop: My First Curve Edit!

[honestrosewater]

I'm playing in Photoshop with some pictures that I just took. I'm pretty comfortable manipulating histograms with the levels tool, but I couldn't figure out how to fix this one (I was experimenting with spot metering in the photo). So I finally just edited my first photo using http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/photoshop-curves.htm" ! W00t! What do you think? Improvement or no? I can't tell now. My judgement gets warped after messing with a picture for too long.

Does anyone else play with curves? I read a little about it when learning levels, but I don't remember how it works. I'm mostly experimenting for fun now. (I'm making a slideshow for a friend. I'm so excited! )

Edit: Hm, side-by-side comparison is better, methinks.

Original:
http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07245/partly-cloudy-0.jpg

Edit:
http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07245/partly-cloudy-1.jpg

Okay, I did a couple more and think I'm starting to get the hang of it.
http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07245/partly-cloudy-4-500.jpg

Curves is awesome.

 

[neutrino]

I'm trying to get my head around this levels and curves stuff.
From my bookmarks: http://www.atpm.com/13.04/photoshop.shtml

 

[honestrosewater]

What is giving you problems? I like http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm" are gorgeous too.) Can you read the histogram and understand the black, white, and middle-gray points?

 

[russ_watters]

To be honest, I like the first one best. It looks the most natural. Cute, btw...

I need to do a lot with levels and curves with my astrophotos. They come out very dim.

 

[neutrino]

What is giving you problems? I like http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm" are gorgeous too.) Can you read the histogram and understand the black, white, and middle-gray points?

Thanks for the link -bookmarked- lots of useful stuff in there! I'm not finding anything difficult per se, I've just begun to work with digital images and image manipulation programs, but I have a rough idea of what the histogram represents.

 

[Smurf]

thats a scary picture, it's like she's staring into my soul.

 

[honestrosewater]

I need to do a lot with levels and curves with my astrophotos. They come out very dim.

Did you learn by reading or doing? I was hoping that I could pick it up fast enough with some careful playing, but I think I'll have to stop and read after all.

thats a scary picture, it's like she's staring into my soul.

Haha, when did you get a soul?

 

[Astronuc]

I agree with Russ - I like the first one which seems most natural and softer.

 

[honestrosewater]

Sorry, russ, I forgot to say thanks for the input. Thanks. I took you guys' advice and just tried to correct the greenish tint thing. This is the one I ended up with. Haha, this is a lot of my face for one thread.

Original:
http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07245/partly-cloudy-0.jpg

Edit:

Haha, there's a difference between them, really. At least I started using curves, so it wasn't a total loss.