Optimize This Image (harrier)

[Dave Phillips]

Hope you don't mind me posting one Al....maybe you could give us a bit
of critique on the postings.

This is a Northern Harrier that flew straight at me last year, in heavy early morning fog.
I'll post mine tomorrow evening.....have fun, it's a challenge but a usable image can be pulled IMO

[Gus Cobos]

Hey Dave,
I hope you like.. I gave it contrast and a little sharpening and increased the hue on the bird.

All The Best,:D

Gus...:cool:

[Dave Phillips]

thanks Gus, looks like a real good start....now a little noise reduction maybe?

[jeff lapoint]

Here's mine. Still a bit flat, but more subtle...

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/265517338_VECMQ-L.jpg

[Fabs Forns]

Adding blacks to the original will work wonders!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Jeff Big Welcome to the mix !!!!!

For mine I adjusted the white and black points then a slight mid tone level adjustment Selected the bg inverse contract 2 pixels then shadow highlight. Didn't do much since noise was creeping in

[jeff lapoint]

Thanks Alfred! That's what I was going for...

I really love the 2 pixel buffer tip when using shadow/highlight.

Thanks!

-j

[Ric Grupe]

Why not just go ahead and replace that sky? Going too far?

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/265662109_MfPbS-L.jpg

[Ian McHenry]

Hi Dave
Original post has a really nice feel to it.
I used Photoshop Elements for edit.
1) Photoshop Elements Smart Fix
2) Noiseware on Landscape setting.
3) Slight sharpening with Faststone.
Ian Mc

[Dave Phillips]

some interesting pp posted of this noisy old foggy harrier.
All except Jeff went to bring up sunlit underside, and a nice variation of skies.(nice replacement Rick).
IMO, Al hit on the real snag with this image.....underexposure noise.

But in the end, I think the reworks do show that an "acceptable" image can be pulled from what
looks hopeless.

Thanks guys, I'll post what I did after dinner

OK, after dinner now......
Since this was my first ever harrier, I totally went with getting the most from the bird,
sacrificing the sky. Tough killing that noise!!
http://i25.tinypic.com/6scnmc.jpg