BACKYARD SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

[gary ellwein]

This is an occassional visitor to our backyard. The day was cloudy with low light. The original image was OK, but not special. I started experimenting with CEP4 and Fractalius and this is the result. Nikon D7000, Nikkor 600mm, 1.4TC, f6.3, 1/320, iso 250. A few distracting branches were removed.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Gary, nice pose and nice job with Fractalius. I wish the black border was complete on the right hand side. If you still have this as a layered image you might want to reveal just a little bit more of the feet also. Nit picky things and it's fine just the way it is

[Bob Miller]

Gary.....I like the fractilius effect! I might give this a try since we have a sharp shinned that visits here

[Kerry Perkins]

Super image Gary, you did a great job with the filter. My only suggestion is to make a better delineation between the bottom part of the tail and the perch. They appear to be merging into one thing. If that is the look you wanted that's certainly OK, just thought I would mention it.

[Maureen Allen]

Nice use of fractalius. Beautiful bird. I agree with Cheryl about the right hand side border.

[gary ellwein]

Here is the redo with complete border and tail seperation from the branch. The feet are a problem in that the hawk is perched using only one foot. Much of the foot shown was recreated after removing an obstructing branch. Thanks to all for the C &Cs. I have a few question relative to Fractalius. When in ones work flow is it best applied? I have handled it like sharpening and applied it at the end after the image has been sized. I have also tried to optimize the image prior to applying Fractalius. Is this a waste of time?

[Cheryl Slechta]

Gary, I like the repost and it addresses the suggestions that were made. Since most of the images I use Fractalius on are not intended to be printed but are usually for online use, I downsize my image first to 150 ppi because it takes so long to render a large image (and I'm impatient), then depending on what I want the end result to look like I'll sharpen it and do any other color corrections, etc. and then use Fractalius. But I'm sure everyone has their own (and different) workflow.

[gary ellwein]

Thanks Cheryl

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Gary, I basically believe that I need to start with the best image possible so I make the original as good as I can make it first and would never consider it a waste of time (quality in equals quality out). When that is done, I decide whether I want to have the effect applied, as Cheryl mentions, only to the web-sized version or if I want a full-size version as well. If I am going for a full-size image, I will do the filter work before resizing for web display. If not, I re-size the image first and then do the filter work. I have gotten in trouble with that though, as sometimes I've been asked for a print or a larger image for submission and I realize I only made the small image. It's hard to go back! In all cases, the first thing I always do in PS is to make a copy of the background layer and work on that layer. If I just hate what I did at any point, I just delete the new layers and start over.

[gary ellwein]

Thanks Kerry