Tern, Fall 2012

[Randall Farhy]

Another from my October 2012 visit to the Forsythe reserve. Original image captured the tern left of center in frame, which will require adding landscape at a future point. For now, I chose to crop and go as I'm still experimenting with the DAP program.

DAP Joaquin, default palette for the Fall colors, played around with the paint settings until I hit upon something ~pleasing. Retouched to bring back details in the bird> LR5 for tweaks and output. I'm at odds with the patch lower right, and the bright splotches on the upper left wing. As always, C&C welcome and appreciated.

[Randall Farhy]

Base image as imported to DAP.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I really like the painterly look Randall. What about lightening a bit. I went into NIK and applied an ND filter. I find the black at the bottom a little too dark. Just a quick edit.

[Randall Farhy]

Thank you Jackie, I like what you did there. Taking it a step further, I'll run a clarity brush over the orange/green band to put some snap back in it as well as subject separation. Appreciated!

[Nancy Bell]

Love the bkgd with it's blobs of color as a strong middle layer! Also like that the top whitish layer & the tern are the same whites as it brings the image together. I do wish the angle of the layers and the angle of the tern were the same. I like both of the images with their different intensities. I really enjoy seeing how some of these programs, i.e. DAP, work.

[Cheryl Slechta]

I like the lightened version better, Randall.

[Arthur Morris]

I love the pose and I like both versions. What's bugging me? The dark strip and the LRC.... At the very least I would fill in the lighter tones LRC with the darker stuff. Love the pose :)

[Anita Bower]

Very nice work! Agree with Artie about lower right corner--clone in the darker colors. I like both versions. Love the bands of interestingly patterned colors in the bg. Great position of bird. Maybe brighten/lighten eye? Excellent.

[Randall Farhy]

Thanks again everyone. Jackie, I lightened and did a little clarity/tone work as well as some spotting in around the wing edges, didn't care for some of those pale spots being so large. Artie-reworked the dark area as suggested, I like it better. Tried to avoid easily spotted repeat patterns. Anita, did a little more work on the eye- one of these days I'll make a library of "Tern eyes" to use for drop ins.

[Anita Bower]

Nice repost.