Hi Everyone,
Yes I KNOW that this crop is somewhat tight :eek::eek:.....this beauty was at point blank range and I didn't want to miss the chance of a shot!! Taken on the Anhinga Trail in March at about 9.15am, but as you can see, the light was already very bright. I have worked on the eye re. some of your suggestions - Lance, I liked the one about using the selection tool and isolating that way. Please tell me how you think it looks - some of my efforts seemed to generate too much noise, although I think that the eye could still be sharper.
400D 100-400 @400mm
ISO 200
AV 6.3 1/1600sec
Many thanks as always!
Best regards,
Nicki
:)
Last edited by Nicki Gwynn Jones; 06-25-2008 at 05:04 PM.
Reason: Posted wrong picture!!
Hi Nicki - I like what you were trying to acheive here - the studio look that I often chase. The BG is great for highlighting the bird. Gorgeous Bird.
I think your biggest issue is the harsh light, it is tight but personally I dont mind tight for these types of shots.
As for the eye - I work with it until it POPS thats the only real way I know how to describe it... so yes maybe some more on the eye.
:)
Hi Nicki Not sure what to do with this one The first thing is the head angle, looking away does detract from the image.
Sometimes when its way off you can say its looking at something but here is not, then combine with harsh light not realistic colors .... would try it as a DC !!! Might be able to come up with something wild but... there is always that head angle ...
It's a nice idea to try, but the harsh light ruined the final result. You could open up Levels and adjust the 'output levels' (the bottom slider) to reduce the overall contrast (or use curve if you prefer). You could then lower the saturation of the colors to your taste, if you find it necessary. Still, the details that are lost in those blown highlights is gone forever.
Hi Folks,
Many thanks for your comments. I've desaturated a little - actually I quite liked the gaudy colours:D!! Lance, the background was already dark, but I darkened it further by tweaking the sliders in levels - I usually find this quite effective. I left the high contrast effect as I felt that it was so obviously taken in harsh light - why spend time in PS trying to disguise it when one could be making lemonade.....:(;)
Best to all,
Nicki
Hi Nicki,
Lovely concept, but just a tad too tight in frame for me...;) but an easy fix by adding canvas on both the left and right side of the frame and also on top...:D and I like your secound repost with the subdued colors and hues...:D
I hear a lot about too tight a crop on this Forum, and although often it is good advice, I don't think so in this case. I think Nikki's crop is correct. The original colors are better as well, for this image should not be thought of as an exact replication of the great blue heron, but how the shapes, textures and colors of the bird come together in the creation of a unique image
Great Blue Heron Portrait...
To Mr Al!!
