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[Brian Sump]

188405

A larger-in-frame of the same Junco.

I am applying a new final stage technique and I would love your thoughts on overall feel (as well as particulars, techs, etc as always).

D850
600mm + 1.4x
Handheld
ISO 800
1/3200
f7.1

LR and PS, DN and Nik. Evicted one branch and a couple leaves, minor touch up. Remove small portion of a branch in LR.

[David Roach]

Hi Brian, Well, not a pixel peeper nor PP expert but the details and light/light falloff/shadows make this very 3D. Killer BG as well. TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Brian, again I like the simplicity of the whole frame and complementary BKG, colours all work. The hips add a lovely splash of colour in the overall palette and the subject is nicely balance IMHO, in frame. Personally I just fine the contrast too strong and it's a wee bit dark adding a slight sootiness.

Overall things are really coming on.

TFS
Steve

[kevin Hice]

Nice Photo Brian Good sharpness but I would say the head is not as sharp as below the eye and to the left towards the wing.Now that is getting picky. I may not have said anything and wouldn't have looked that close. Only responded because you were trying something new in your processing.
Love the green background,rose hips add great interest.Would maybe take some off the bottom too much stem IMO. TFS Now after looking I wonder if it is because the head is darker?

[Brian Sump]

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Steve, David and Kevin thank you very much for the feedback. It is well received.

Kevin, the focus point was just below the cheek so that could very well be the reason the top of head appears less sharp. That and at f7.1 there's still a little fall off.

Based on the suggestions I made some edits. Raised brightness +9, lightened darks using TK mask, touch sharpened the head and cropped a bit tighter with less below.

Feedback welcome (you can right click this image and the first, select open in new tab and compare more easily) :

188407

[annmpacheco]

I do like this repost Brian and as i read through the above comments, I was in agreement with the suggestions and it was a noticeable improvement here. Lovely colors, perch and the junco is rather cheeky!

[kevin Hice]

Nice repost Brian definitely makes it that much better.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Brian, the RP is better, but still feel it looks just a tad flat, but that's just me. :w3

[gail bisson]

Both images are excellent. I prefer the repost but would be happy with the OP.
Love the color palette and the vertical crop.
Really like the different greens in the BG.
Very nice indeed,
Gail

[Brian Sump]

Ann and Gail, definitely respect your opinion. Thank you for the positive comments.

Steve and Kevin, appreciate the replies on the repost!

[dankearl]

Repost looks nice, nice subject and perch.
I cannot really tell from the image what PP you did which is good....
Since you are picky with your images, I might use the healing brush tool and
smooth out the BG in a few areas (upper RH corner).
Only if you are picky....

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Brian, beautiful bird, lovely setting. The rose hips really pop against the green background. The feather detail on the bird shows nicely. I think lowering the contrast a bit would improve the image. Thank you for sharing.

[Brian Sump]

Repost looks nice, nice subject and perch.
I cannot really tell from the image what PP you did which is good....
Since you are picky with your images, I might use the healing brush tool and
smooth out the BG in a few areas (upper RH corner).
Only if you are picky....

Thanks Dan. Yes, particular for sure and solid suggestion.

FWIW, I did dodge those two darker spots a bit as they were more pronounced at the onset (was a juniper bush in the bkg with large, unlit sections). But sure, could def have blended better.


Hi Brian, beautiful bird, lovely setting. The rose hips really pop against the green background. The feather detail on the bird shows nicely. I think lowering the contrast a bit would improve the image. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the suggestions and positives Joe!