Bedlam:
Here's a very quick mini-tutorial on contrast masking:
- Duplicate your original image (Layer > Duplicate Layer)
- Desaturate the duplicate layer (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate)
- Invert the duplicate layer (Image > Adjustments > Invert)
- Change the Blending Mode of the duplicate layer to Soft Light
- Apply some Gaussian Blur to the duplicate layer (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur). Start with a small radius and gradually increase it until the detail starts to become clearer.
- If the shadows have become a little wishy-washy, add a Levels adjustment layer at the top of the stack (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels) and boost the blacks.
For a more dramatic effect, you can use
Overlay instead of
Soft Light in step 4. Job done!
I'd like to be able to claim credit for this technique, but I learnt it from Tim Shelbourne's
Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook.
I've also got a tut for candlelight somewhere - I'll see if I can find it.