A Lotta Hard Work by Everyone....

[Arthur Morris]

This Bewick's Wren was photographed on Roel Ramirez's Ranch in Roma, TX. It was nesting in the eaves of the large morning photo blind. It came in and out like a bat landing far to our right. I managed just a a single sharp frame (see the ORIG below) with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/6.3.

The bird worked very hard bringing in food for the young and I worked very hard getting rid of the rusty pipe and building a sharp tip to the frond that the bird was sitting on. I had zip on this species.... Plus, I love the spider.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Arthur Morris]

I used a series of Quick Masks as well as the Clone Stamp and the Patch Tool. Total time involved: about one hour. Was it worth it to me? Yes sir.

[denise ippolito]

Excellent PP work. I like the composition and the spider is a big plus! Beautiful details and a lovely BG color!

[Doug Brown]

Nice job with the PP Artie! Time well spent. Love the head turn and the spider!

[Scott Frye]

Great job fixing the right side -- and congratulations on getting a first-timer. I would have been tempted to just clone out the bottom leaf and not spend any more time on the construction; but now I see that it adds good depth to the photo. I learned something from viewing this.

[David Thomasson]

Nice work, Art. I agree, it's worth the effort.

Just wondering about the color of this bird. It looks like there's a slight bluish/cyan cast, but maybe that's the bird's natural color? Or is this closer to it?

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4263/birdcolor.jpg

[Don Lacy]

Very nice image the spider makes it worth all the effort you put into it.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Artie!
Great PP work and definitely worth it - agree that the spider makes it!
Best,
Nicki

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the pose, perch and composition, thanks for sharing the original, too. I agree with David that the colors of the original look different and like the idea of a higher color temperature.

[Fabs Forns]

Good work evicting the distraction. I like the warmer repost and great to catch the spider in the focal plane :)

[denise ippolito]

David, I didn't even notice the color cast til you pointed it out.Now it really stands out.

[Arthur Morris]

David, I didn't even notice the color cast until you pointed it out. But you nailed the correction (again). Thanks!

[Karl Egressy]

Love the pose and the Spider. Great work on getting rid of that rusty pipe, Artie.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

If you don't tell...

Great lesson of pp. David's repost improved this image even more, my God, digital photography knows no boundaries!

Beautiful bird, lovely BG, that spider is killer.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Wow, great work there, that is one massive masking/cloning work.
Love it!

[Stu Bowie]

Great pp work Artie, and love the light in this, shows up the eye nicely. His catch is definately a bonus. Well captured.