F5.6 Super DOF

This image was created from a "stack" of two images shot this morning. The images were shot with a tripod mounted Nikon D200, 80-400mmVR lens at 400mm, f5.6, 1/60th sec, auto exp mode +.67, ISO 400. In one image I manually focused on the female Common Goldeneye, then without changing my framing, I focused on the Great Blue Heron. In PS CS3, I opened both images in ACR, adjusted them in tandom, then opened both into PS CS3, placed one image atop the other in a seperate layer and used the eraser tool to erase the OOF heron and the lower half of the image which left the underlying heron etc (which was in focus). Then I flattened and proceeded to QM and clone out some distracting stuff, adjusted levels etc a bit more and sharpened with Nik Sharpener Pro. C&C welcome.:)

Dan, nice job on this! Great idea and worth thinking about for many shots I take!!

Hi Dan I like the idea very much Would suggest trying to have the birds interacting in some way, maybe looking in the same direction or at each other. Excellent PS work and good placement for both !!!

Love the birds...not so sure about the water. To me, the birds look properly exposed but the water appears to be muddy in the midtones. Any way to brighten them up a bit or is that the way the scene appeared to you?

Thanks guys. Julie, the water seems as it was to me but I agree with you, it is not attractive:(.

Hehehe, a resourceful approach that I've taken many times, good for you! I like it :)