This image originally was intended as a silhoutte, but I didn't like the result. Before deleting the image, I thought I'd try it the other way round by increasing the exposure and opening up the shadow in the underexposed image. It needed quite some tinkering in PP then if I would have exposed for a high-key image, but I was quite happy with the results. I liked the twisted structures in the rocks and how their colors match those of the gull's feathers.
D7000, 200mm f/4 Micro, handheld, ISO100, f/7.1, 1/250 s, -1 EV
ACR/CS5, increased exposure, fill light, contrast tweaks with contrast and clarity sliders, some dodging on the whites of the bird.
C&C and suggestions for improvement very welcome!
Hi Jerry, if you take the WB to the right you'll loose the blueness within the image and the rock looks more natural. Adding some Contrast and even perhaps some Dehaze brings some detail back into the craggy rock.
Dehaze is not a 'silver bullet' but in some instances it can have some nice effects.
Ah, just saw, you have an old version of PS so it will not be there sadly.
Thanks Steve. Yes, I'm missing out on some options, but some good pointers that may be solved through other routes! The rocks were pretty bluish grey, but I see that there is some blue in the gull too, so some teeaking is in order.
Here's a reworked version in which I corrected the WB and 'dehazed' the image by creating a duplicate layer which I merged using the 'soft light' option. I then dodged the whites on the gull some more and added a little more punch with a small amount of high pass sharpening. Completely different image IMO. Let me know what you think.
Each repost keeps getting better. The problem as I see it is the image quality and sharpness of the gull, which looks pretty funky... Good job though on the look-back 90 degree head angle.
a
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Each repost keeps getting better. The problem as I see it is the image quality and sharpness of the gull, which looks pretty funky... Good job though on the look-back 90 degree head angle.
a
Thanks Arthur. Bear in mind that this was at least 2 stops underexposed. Although the IQ in the original image looks a lot better, I'm still salvaging a failed attempt for a silhouette shot. Maybe not worth the effort, because IQ will never be up to par with an image that was intentionally shot as a high key image.
Did you get this from the OP or the RP? Just a little more pop and better WB.
Jerry, any RP I do is always from the original, so you can see what can be achieved - hopefully, and that is from a 400kb file. However, with the RAW you will then really see what you have capture in the original file.
Gull on the rocks
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski
