Removing haze

Moredhel · 28 May 2007 at 12:35

Hi guys,

Is there any easy way to remove haze from the background of landscape images? I've put together a panorama from 4 images (taken without a tripod so it doesn't quite gel perfectly, but I'm pretty pleased with it nonetheless) but it would be so much better if the background wasn't quite so hazy.

I've done no post processing other than merging and blending the 4 images on this first one.

This one is using the "direct positive" preset in Lightroom. Which makes the sky look much better, but makes the hazy background look blue.

(Click the images for bigger ones)

Any suggestions?

dirtybeatfreak · 28 May 2007 at 12:38

have u got a uv filter??? they stop hazing..as for in lightroom, one of the experts will have to let u know that one

SilverPenguin · 28 May 2007 at 15:46

alangelluk said:
have u got a uv filter??? they stop hazing..as for in lightroom, one of the experts will have to let u know that one

Thats not strictly true for digital camera's, it was more the case for film days. But of course marketing will never tell you that...lol

Someone (on this forum I think?) posted an example image recently showing with and without a UV filter shots, the naked lens looked much better, sharper, clearer and more saturated

divine` · 28 May 2007 at 16:48

SilverPenguin said:
Someone (on this forum I think?) posted an example image recently showing with and without a UV filter shots, the naked lens looked much better, sharper, clearer and more saturated

meeeeee!!

SilverPenguin · 28 May 2007 at 16:56

divine_madness said:
meeeeee!!

lol!!

ChroniC · 28 May 2007 at 19:10

Something can be done yes, (i did it in photoshop, never used lightroom)
Ive had a very quick fiddle so i could explain it best, this is about all i can do
Problem being is it seems to blend the foreground and background together.

vs

I masked the area thats blue tinted, raised the contrast, lowered the brightness, and used the channel mixer to customise the tone of the colours, to something more natural. Is that the type of thing your aiming for?

Moredhel · 28 May 2007 at 19:18

ChroniC said:
Something can be done yes, (i did it in photoshop, never used lightroom)
Ive had a very quick fiddle so i could explain it best, this is about all i can do
Problem being is it seems to blend the foreground and background together.

I masked the area thats blue tinted, raised the contrast, lowered the brightness, and used the channel mixer to customise the tone of the colours, to something more natural. Is that the type of thing your aiming for?

Yeah, although I see what you mean about the foreground and background mixing together. I'll have a play around.

robertgilbert86 · 28 May 2007 at 20:11

HDR?

aztechnology · 28 May 2007 at 20:36

Quire impressed by those early PS atempts. UV filters can improve hze effects a bit, but the only reliable way to beat that haze, is to get up early in the morning. Get there before the haze does.