Gradients in a Curves Mask

1. Open the Image: peopleskysweb.jpg

From: www.jennifermoller.com/CLASS

2. In the Layer Palette > Apply a Curves Layer

3. Control Click (hold down Shift + Cmd) in the center of the Curves diagonal and pull the curve into the histogram so that the entire image is darker. See my settings below.

Output 80 and Input 133

4. In the Tools Palette, Click on the Gradient Tool and set it to the options below:

Linear Gradient/ You can reverse the white/black direction/Opacity 100% to start

5. Drag and Drop a Gradient Line from the Center of the image to the Left corner where the kids are moving a boulder. You can redraw the gradient line as many times as you need to, the latter will replace the former. You can adjust the opacity to fit the image as I did by dropping the Opacity from 100% to 75%.