Smooth-billed Ani

Smooth-billied Ani, Anhinga Trail

Canon EOS-1D Mark III, EF400mm f/5.6L USM
1/500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600

Mild crop, birdie dandruff cloned out

I like this shot alot Amy. Framed by the foliage. The more I look at it the more that eye draws me in. Was this all in camera or is there a blur over the foliage?

regards.
Stu.

Hi Stu, oof areas are all in camera.

Really like the OOF environment, Amy. What an amazing bill on that bird. Really like the feather detail and the head angle too.

I do not know this bird real well but my mind is saying BLACKER. Eight minutes later, I came up with this version. As my pal Ofer would ask, WDYT? I like the detail and the bird in green heaven look. Great to see you so active here :S3:

Amy, this is one of the best Smooth-billed Ani photos that I have seen. I absolutely love the green BG and all the details you have here but feel as though it needs a tad more sharpening. Artie's version appears sharper. I just looked at a bunch of Ani pictures, and it seems Artie's version is more depictive of their actual color.

It's nice to see you posting!

Well Artie, I have to tell you... I prefer your version with more contrast. In fact, I kept bumping it up and then I actually backed off some fearing it was overdone. I should have gone with my gut. Which method did you use to increase it? Perhaps that's the ticket. Thanks! BTW, did you increase the sharpness as Marina suspects?

Marina, it is interesting that you should say that it needed more sharpening. Perhaps so, but I think it is actually slightly over-sharpened as some of the detail above the eye appears icy. I am curious to know what other people think about the matter.

Thank you both for your input. Most appreciated!

I'm a big fan of these types of portrait shots. Another vote for more sharpening on the original post.

Hi Amy, re:

Well Artie, I have to tell you... I prefer your version with more contrast.

That is good but I did not use Curves...

In fact, I kept bumping it up and then I actually backed off some fearing it was overdone. I should have gone with my gut. Which method did you use to increase it? Perhaps that's the ticket. Thanks!

I added black to the BLACKS and black to the Neutrals in Selective Color on a new Layer with a Hide-All mask (which was then painted away). Also did a lot of bill and face clean-up.

BTW, did you increase the sharpness as Marina suspects?

Yes, also with a Hide-All mask. Actually used quite a bit of sharpening considering that you had sharpened it already, probably 75-100 at .3 (Unsharp Mask).

Marina, it is interesting that you should say that it needed more sharpening. Perhaps so, but I think it is actually slightly over-sharpened as some of the detail above the eye appears icy.

Detail above the eye does not look over-sharpened to me: I was careful as I dialed in the Amount :S3:

I am curious to know what other people think about the matter.

Me too!

Thank you both for your input. Most appreciated!

​YAW