How can I salvage very noisy ISO 25,600 wedding reception photos?
Asked 3/4/2013
3 views
2 answers
0
I shot RAW at a wedding reception as a guest using a Canon 5D Mark III and EF 50mm f/1.4. In Aperture Priority with Auto ISO, many images ended up at ISO 25,600, typically around f/2-f/4 and 1/125-1/250 sec. Focus and motion blur are not the main issue; the images are simply very noisy. In Lightroom, pushing noise reduction high enough makes faces look overly soft and plasticky. What’s the best way to process these files to balance noise reduction and detail, and are there any other practical recovery options?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
11
When I have extremely noisy images, I do two things:
Use a 3rd party noise reduction plugin - in my case I use Topaz DeNoise - it, and others, have free trials - so you could give them a try if you want to experiment.
These denoise plugins have sliders that will reduce noise, which softens the image, but you also have control over detail (you can decrease noise but retain detail on edges) and you can also control separately whether noise reduction is applied to highlights, midtones and shadows. So I might first limit the noise reduction to the shadow areas.
I do this in several layers, one for dark background with no detail, where I push the noise reduction all the way - not worried about detail. Another layer or three for other areas which have detail I want to preserve.
- Using layers I can then mask in different parts of different layers.
In your case, I would apply as much noise reduction as I could in LR4, not to the point that you lose detail. Then export to Elements, try out a plugin like DeNoise or Noise Ninja, and work in layers.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
At ISO 25,600, there’s an unavoidable tradeoff: stronger noise reduction will remove detail. If Lightroom’s global NR makes faces look plastic, the best approach is selective processing rather than pushing one slider hard on the whole image.
Useful options:
- Apply heavier noise reduction only where detail doesn’t matter, such as dark backgrounds and shadows.
- Use lighter NR on faces and important edges to preserve detail.
- A dedicated noise-reduction plug-in can give more control, including separate treatment of shadows, midtones, and highlights.
- If full resolution isn’t essential, downsize the images; reducing output size significantly improves the apparent noise.
- For some shots, convert to black and white and let the grain become part of the look.
The key point is that you can’t fully recover detail that isn’t in the original signal. You’re choosing the most pleasing compromise: selective denoising, smaller output, or embracing the grain aesthetically.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI13y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How much ISO noise can be rescued in post for extreme moon shots?
How can I reduce high-ISO noise from a Kodak EasyShare Z981 for concert photos?
Why does noise reduction seem to disappear when I zoom out in RawTherapee?
How can I reduce noise in low-light photos with a Canon PowerShot A510?
For Milky Way shots, is a shorter exposure at higher ISO better than a longer exposure at lower ISO?