Photoshop Request Please?

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As I'm not very good at photography, I cannot take a decent photo of this shopfront without the sign lighting being over-exposed. Could somebody reduce the exposure for me, so that the writing is clearly readable?

12022010237.jpg


Full Size: http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2595/12022010237.jpg

These should give you an idea of what I am trying to achieve:
1) http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1208/img0488m.jpg
2) http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2829/shanghairevised.jpg

Any help would be much appreciated!
 
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If you see a big blob of just bright white, as is in that last link you have posted then nothing can be done with it.

The image is what's called 'burnt out' - there is no detail to recover anything from, it's gone.

Can you try taking the pictures again? Does your camera have any settings such as a shutter speed control?
 
Guess there's no solution other than retaking the picture, with the correct settings then! Speaking off which though, what settings would I need to adjust so that the exposure isn't so great? I have a Canon Ixus 100IS if that helps.

Mods: Could this be moved to the photography forum then please?
 
Guess there's no solution other than retaking the picture, with the correct settings then! Speaking off which though, what settings would I need to adjust so that the exposure isn't so great? I have a Canon Ixus 100IS if that helps.

Mods: Could this be moved to the photography forum then please?

just adjust the exposure.. on digital cameras i think its called light+dark- w/e just make it darker.. what else do you expect with nokia? :D
 
Guess there's no solution other than retaking the picture, with the correct settings then! Speaking off which though, what settings would I need to adjust so that the exposure isn't so great? I have a Canon Ixus 100IS if that helps.

Mods: Could this be moved to the photography forum then please?

Expose less, so use iso 50 or 100 not 400. Use a faster shutter, use a smaller aperture.
 
Not sure if you can do this on the phone you're using but with compacts+ you can center the image on the sign, press the shutter button halfway down which will keep the focus/iso/shutter settings then frame the image as you wish and press the shutter button down fully taking the pic, the sign should then be perfectly exposed but surroundings may be noisy.
 
You need to take two exposures. There is not enough dynamic range in the single photo to be able to get a good balance.

One needs to be correctly exposed for the sign, and one needs to be exposed for the surrounding area.

You can then merge the two photos in photo shop to get a perfectly balanced exposure, so the sign isn't too bright, and the surrounding area isn't too dark.

You need to place the camera on a tripod or keep it very still between the two shots.
 
Not sure if you can do this on the phone you're using

Its not a phone... I have the Canon Ixus 100IS. For better results you need to retake the picture though.

You need to set it to "P" mode, so take the switch on the right down to the middle setting. (Top is "Auto", Middle is "P" and bottom is "Movie")

Then press the "Func Set" button. Then go down to "ISO" and change it to 80. Turning the flash off might help too.
 
maybe take 2 identical photos one using the flash and one without...then just cut and paste the lights section.
 
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