I would like to post three shots taken today - not good light wise - but I took all three shots on 50D with 17-55 2.8 is lens - Aperture Priority - First shot is full version of shot taken AV f9 1/250 18mm focal length - 2nd one posted is an edited version which I converted to B&W and cropped. These two images obviously show my black and white cocker spaniel who decided to go mountaineering - the light/distance/focal length did not give me much chance on this shot - it was a quick grab of the camera and give it a go - but I would love if someone could suggest how maybe with PP I could improve the look.Third and last is just a slightly cropped (bottom) landscape which I quite like but would like suggestions to improve - taken at f8 1/400 AVThe shots were taken in the bleakest, highest and most haunted (reputedly) area of Shropshire - The Stiperstones have led to fables of the devil's chair and the movement of these outcrops of granite from the shropshire plain - it seems that the twin peaks of this image could fancifully lead to an alteration of these rock outcrops in a certain light but as you can see on closer examination its just my dog

Try Topaz Adjust 3, an excellent color and contrast adjuster plugin -- http://hdr.strivearth.com| canon fodder

If you have either adobe PS Elements 6 or above you might try using the Shadow/Highlite tool. It does wonders for bringing out detail in shadows while at the same time allowing you to tone down the highlites. The image currently lacks contrast which is the flat look you see. --Thanks to you all for what you share so freely, It's my hope to be able to help others as well.

I hesitate to post process shots by others as I am no expert and PP is such an individual thing, based on what you are looking for from the shot and the intended purpose. Number one is indeed a difficult situation as you were shooting against the sky and there is a wide dynamic range. There is however a surprising amount of detail and colour in the rocks, even in the small sample presented. I used DPP to bring out the colour and detail as best I could and you should be able to do better with the original or the RAW version if you shot in RAW. I started by using the tone curve assist, adjusted the tone curve manually and then added a bit of sharpening. Slightly different crop.Nothing much wrong with the last shot but as Greg mentioned, it is just a bit flat. I added just a bit of contrast, saturation and sharpening.The same could have been accomplished with PS Elements or other programs.I hope this helps. I use the same lens with 40D.Bill

I liked the dark sky of the first shot but lightened the dog and added local contrast.In fact a little too much in the rocks but that could easily toned downButch

Yes - you achieved what I was hoping for but not seeming to be able to do - lightening Bert so that he stood out a little more - I loved the sky in the shot as well and when I tried to lift details out in the dog I was losing the skyAnyone think a different setting for taking the shot would have helped here or would it always have problems against the sky - I shoot in Large Jpeg - seems this would have been a good time to try RAW Thanks again -- Jayboo