Ice Hockey problem - shooting through scratched glass.

[5354photos]

I am a newbie, using GIMP 2.10.38

In this ice hockey photo, there is some haze in the middle mainly due to shooting through scratched glass. I wonder how should I fix it? I use dehaze ...
I may want to try some masking before dehazing?

Your advice is appreciated

[denzjos]

(04-25-2025, 09:51 AM)5354photos Wrote: I am a newbie, using GIMP 2.10.38

In this ice hockey photo, there is some haze in the middle mainly due to shooting through scratched glass. I wonder how should I fix it? I use dehaze ...
I may want to try some masking before dehazing?

Your advice is appreciated

Please insert the photo in your post.

[rich2005]

(04-25-2025, 09:51 AM)5354photos Wrote: I am a newbie, using GIMP 2.10.38

In this ice hockey photo, there is some haze in the middle mainly due to shooting through scratched glass. I wonder how should I fix it? I use dehaze ...
I may want to try some masking before dehazing?

Your advice is appreciated

You could try a gmic_gimp_qt filter fom http://www.gmic.eu  (There is a Windows installer for Gimp 2.10) Edit Oops - using linux - there are linux versions there as well.

then... maybe one of the sharpen filters.... there is a sharpen dehaze but it seems to introduce artifacts so I might go for the Sharpen(Whiten) filter.

Let it make a new layer and put the layer into a mode (try various) This one Vivid light.

   

[Ofnuts]

A lot of your "haze" is focus or motion blur, given the "Binggrae" in the back seems somewhat sharper.

[denzjos]

A solution :
Make a copy from the original photo
Make a new transparent layer and draw a big grey line on it (use brush 2. Hardness 050) in the direction / area of the haze (I used grey HTML notation aaaaaa)
Make a quick mask from the players (Shift+Q) using the original copied layer, Shift+Q to convert in a selection
Set this layer not visible
Set the layer with the grey line active, invert the selection and press delete to erase the grey area around the players
Then, ' Select / None' and Gaussian Blur the result a little (value 2) and set the layer mode 'Burn'. Tune a little using the layer opacity.

Grey layer after mask / selection /blur
   

Result with selection to compare :
   

[5354photos]

Thanks. Learnt new tricks from everyone. It's also amazing sharpen (whiten) and G Blur can address the issue.
Besides improving the focusing and camera movement , I will be more cautious when shooting through hazy glass. Below is a comparison of 2 photos. One is thru less hazy glass or certain angle(?) to the glass.


   

---

(04-25-2025, 04:20 PM)denzjos Wrote:

(04-25-2025, 09:51 AM)5354photos Wrote: I am a newbie, using GIMP 2.10.38

In this ice hockey photo, there is some haze in the middle mainly due to shooting through scratched glass. I wonder how should I fix it? I use dehaze ...
I may want to try some masking before dehazing?

Your advice is appreciated

Please insert the photo in your post.

New to the forum, it seems I accidentally deleted the original photo

   

[denzjos]

When shooting action it is not always possible to get a good position. As you said glass can have annoying reflections and choosing a different position so that you are shooting through the glass from a different angle can be a solution. A polarizing filter can also help with reflections, but the angle opposite the reflective surface is also important to minimize reflections. If the glass is not clear or scratched the depth of field of the subject is important. With moving subjects this is difficult. The camera settings 'focus on moving object' and 'object tracking' can help (if the camera has this option). The 'burst' function can also help in selecting a good photo. It is always better to try and get a good photo than to have to correct it afterwards. I always try to assess the situation, choose a good position (if possible) and set a shutter speed and ISO in advance, with the ability to correct both quickly. This usually helps... or not.