Need help with a strong backlight on my video clip

[MartinMtb92]

Hi! Hope someone really can help me.

I have this clip that my brother filmed me on my bike doing this trick and unfortunately he filmed against the sun and you can barely see me.

So i have tried to fade the backlight and increase the focus on me but with my knowledge on editing the result werent so great...

So i thought maybe some of you guys can help me with this problem and i can send the clip to you?

[smrpix]

You can upload a small sample or even a still right here. Is there any detail at all in the backlit subject?

[MartinMtb92]

Heres a frame grab

[smrpix]

All you really need to do is drop the gamma a little. That will darken the clip and make the rider more visible.



If you really want to get fancy you can make a soft-edged mask around the highlight and bring that down a little more. Don't let the sun drop below 100% or the result will feel weird.

[newpball]

I completely disagree, you do not fix a backlight problem by lowering the gamma, you fix it by lowering the highlights and if necessary by raising the overall exposure.

[smrpix]

I completely disagree, you do not fix a backlight problem by lowering the gamma, you fix it by lowering the highlights and if necessary by raising the overall exposure.

Show me.

It's not a backlight problem, it's a sun glare problem. The cyclist is already properly exposed. You go for what's best as an overall shot -- in this case adding contrast and focus to the cyclist by lowering the gamma a bit

[poisondeathray]

I can barely see the bike - it looks like you're riding an "invisible" bike

How big is the clip? Can you post the original clip ?

[budwzr]

Next time, use the sun to light the scene, not obscure it.

[newpball]

You go for what's best as an overall shot --

Within limits, you would not want to make it into some kind of night scene.

[Cornucopia]

Hard to tell if this is indicative of the rest of the clip, and that could change my answer. However, (assuming it is a good representative) a look at the histogram will tell you that it is already bright enough overall.

I did a quick play around with it: lowered the black point in levels, ran it through HP filter twice, slight adjust in curves (yes, gamma), small increase in saturation, very small UnsharpMask, while in Lab mode. All done in 16bit. Got something I think is better overall for the scene, but I don't think it actually makes the rider/subject any/much better. Since there are a few elements that got too dark (upper right trees, e.g.), I would back off on the effect somewhat (50% blend, etc). Anyway, here it is:

(before)

(after)

Scott

[MaverickTse]

it seems to me more than just a problem of back light.
The motion blur is what removed all the details from the bike and driver...
Does all frames look like this?
And is the original video in Interlaced form?

[smrpix]

Context and motion are incredibly important. For one thing, is this a lockdown or a panning shot? I assumed lockdown in my original CC candidate (knowing it might not be the case.)

[budwzr]

Whoever can fix that video I will give $1,000,000,000,000.

[MaverickTse]

Whoever can fix that video I will give $1,000,000,000,000.

If you're serious, than someone may make a 3D bike+biker model and blend it into that forest background

[racer-x]

I remember playing around with some Avisynth filters, I think it was called "Fuse" or something like that. It may help your video, but won't make it perfect.

What this video is good for, is a lesson learned to always shoot with the sun at your back when possible......

[MartinMtb92]

Thanks for all the answers guys!! I will take any tip i cant get and atleast try to make it a little better. Heres a link to the video: https://vimeo.com/107378245 If someone wants to try help me make this shot better you can download the clip on the page or i will take any advise i can get

[newpball]

I'd say there are far bigger problems than sunlight in that clip.

And, pretty please with sugar on top, do yourself a big favor and use a tripod next time!

[poisondeathray]

Nice double backflip!

And I see the bike now, or at least in the other frames

If you want someone to help, you need to upload the original, original video clip from the camera (unprocessed). If it's too large, you can cut it with something like avidemux (set video to "copy" and it won't re-encode)

[budwzr]

Thanks for all the answers guys!! If someone wants to try help me make this shot better you can download the clip on the page or i will take any advise i can get

Best advice is don't shoot cameras into sunlight.

[racer-x]

Yes that clip is too processed already, better to work with original.

The Fusion filter for Avisynth may help a little. Here is a before/after example. The left side is the original improperly exposed clip. The right side is processed using the Fusion filter.

[MartinMtb92]

budwzr: Yeah i will try to remember to tell my brother to not film against the sun next time but all the adrenalin before trying to do a Double back you dont think that much at times..

Racer-X: Thanks for that i will try that out. Heres the original file

[budwzr]

Luckily, that video clip can't be used. You shouldn't post anything publicly, that might get into somebody else's viral video.

Next time, don't move the camera, or use a tripod if you do. Use the zoom on the lens to go in and out, but keep the camera base steady. The camera guy should practice more on squirrels and birds.

An easy way to get multicam shots is with 2 or more GoPro's connected via remote control. You can put the GoPro's along the path shooting up too.

Good luck with it.

[newpball]

Luckily, that video clip can't be used. You shouldn't post anything publicly, that might get into somebody else's viral video.

What's the problem with that? So people now should not publish anything because it can be used?

If someone wants to publish a video he made on public grounds he has the right to do so. At least in the USA (with some common sense exceptions). Don't know about North Korea though

[budwzr]

No, I mean publish it, don't give it away for free. Put it on a monetized YouTube Channel, then spread it around. I just think it's prudent to preserve your copyrights in this day and age.

Them crazy basterds might get another Evel Kneival viral hit.

[newpball]

No, I mean publish it, don't give it away for free. Put it on a monetized YouTube Channel, then spread it around. I just think it's prudent to preserve your copyrights in this day and age.

Who gives what away for free?

The fact that you monetize a video or not does not in any way change your rights to the video.

[budwzr]

No, it doesn't change your rights, but it does document those rights.

If you have a creator or partner account with YouTube, like I do, anything you post there becomes "Published". Published copyright claims should be much easier to enforce, especially on YouTube, where ad revenue is part of the picture.

[newpball]

No, it doesn't change your rights, but it does document those rights.

I think you are seriously mistaken.

What do you mean by documenting those rights?

[newpball]

No, it doesn't change your rights, but it does document those rights.

If you have a creator or partner account with YouTube, like I do, anything you post there becomes "Published". Published copyright claims should be much easier to enforce, especially on YouTube, where ad revenue is part of the picture.

Creator account on YouTube or not is irrelevant, anything you post on the internet without explicit restrictions is considered published.

Also it does not matter whether it is published or not unpublished works have copyright as well (but their expiration may be different).

[MartinMtb92]

budwzr: Thanks for the tip i will try to make it better next time for sure!

[racer-x]

I didn't try the Fusion filter. I went and faded the sun at the point you crossed by it. Not great, but better I think. It should look better when you slow it down or step through it...