Editing Help

[MikiChelle]

I have a wonderful shot of a MX biker jumping a ramp. Unfortunately I was in a bad position where there was this huge lit ad sign behind the guy & the rest is black. I want to black out the whole background but don't know how to do it. Unfortunately right now my editing tool is Lightroom (& picnik through ACE) so no layers, at least that I know of & I just can't figure it out. I read one thing online that said I can repeatedly darken the background but I can't seem to get it close enough to make a difference since there are tiny bits & details like the handle bars. Here is one of the pics I am trying to play with (I don't know how to make it show from flikr). http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikichelle4/5530614591/
Any help is appreciated.

[Tammi Oberg]

I tried to look at your photo, but it says I don't have permission.

[MikiChelle]

Sorry I bet it is private let me fix

[MikiChelle]

@tamallamma Try now I made it public.
Thanks for looking by the way

[Sarah Miller]

Just my personal opinion but I would just straighten, tight crop to remove the pixel sign on the right and amp up the higlights and contrast a bit on the biker to make him pop. I love the signs behind him. Otherwise I'm no help in lightroom sorry :(

[Nikkers]

If you want you can download a couple of free edit programs I use
http://photofiltre.en.softonic.com/.
and then enlarge the pic and then use the clone tool.. I dont know if lightroom has a clone tool.
I also use photo pos pro another free download
http://download.cnet.com/Photo-Pos-Pro/3000-2192_4-10264444.html

and another way to show your pic, is post date a photo when uploading to a 2009 or 2010 album. and then you show people the photo you want without it interfering with your 2011 album..

[Natalie Payne]

lightroom you should be able to do it with the adjustment brush, in develop mode, top right side corner. maybe pick burn and use the sliders to get your required darkness

[Natalie Payne]

sorry hope that makes sense- not feeling very articulate tonight

[Teri Moore]

I agree with the crop and tighten...I think the sign in the back adds to the photo. Great shot by the way!

[Tina]

if you black out the background wont you lose the handle bars, tires and his shoes? I like the sign and the photo, wish I could be more help. Just wanted to say I think you did a great job!

[Stacy ♥ DOF]

I love the signs. It's an awesome action candid.

[Kathryn Marshall]

Awesome action capture! I like the above ideas on cropping to edit the sign. If you still don't want the sign in the background, how about making the background another color than black (white or a light color?) to make the figure pop out. If I was better at editing and this is my photo, this is what I would try.

[MikiChelle]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I have decided to try to make the guy pop & just dull down the sign a bit.

[MikiChelle]

So here it is in the end.
Thanks for all your help