Used Topaz Remask to extract the bird. Put on a black BG. Purposely made the bird darker because I like the rim lighting to give a hint of an outline. Tried to make the bill lighter than the light parts on the wing because I thought they were competing. Don't know if I am successful on this one or not but it was a good learning exercise. Comments/ suggestions appreciated.
05-23-2010, 01:18 PM
Arthur Morris
Nicely done. Ligthing on the bill is perfect. COMP is loverly. Two things bug me: the grayed out feathers in the llc and the grayed out feathers of the crest (especially where it seems that you can see the outline of the head behind the crest...
05-23-2010, 01:19 PM
Kerry Perkins
Really like this Jackie! Love the "just enough" hint of the neck and the way the composition brings my eye around in a spiral. I think you could even crop a tad more from the right. Very nice!
05-23-2010, 03:04 PM
Cheryl Slechta
Jackie, I love the lighting and agree with Kerry that you could crop from the right a bit.
05-23-2010, 03:33 PM
denise ippolito
Jackie, Very nicely done. I think you got some great suggestions already. I really like the lighting on this. Very dramatic feel.:)
05-23-2010, 04:33 PM
Anita Bower
I think you succeeded in making the bill the central focus. That is where my eye went first. I'm wondering how it would look with Arthur's suggestions.
05-24-2010, 04:10 AM
Patti Edens
Jackie, I think the chiaroscuro technique works really well with this image. The lighting brings out enough of the features of the Anhinga to spark interest, but hides enough to provoke mystery.
Patti
05-24-2010, 06:34 AM
Jackie Schuknecht
Thanks for the comments. I agree with all of the suggestions, but don't have time for a repost. I appreciate all the feed back.
05-25-2010, 08:15 PM
Christopher Miller
Love this a lot, Jackie. The lighting and comp are just perfect. :)