Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Purple Finch (Classic BOAS)

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default Purple Finch (Classic BOAS)

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Backyard Birding May 8, 2010
    Set-up at feeder
    Canon 1 DX3 600mm v.3
    ISO 1250 F 6.3 SS 1/2500
    The whites on lower belly were not blown on RAW (207, 2013, 194), just not much detail there. I did use a luminosity mask but it didn't do much to reveal any detail.
    About 80% FF and nothing added or cloned.
    Topaz Denoise on BG, levels. Usual LR sliders.
    Comments and critiques always learned from and appreciated with thanks,
    Gail

  2. #2
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    8,825
    Threads
    1,355
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You have a nice set up!
    Perch is great, lighting looks terrific.
    I wish you did not have the dark bg on the right.
    I am not sure what you would bring out with a luminosity mask,
    you would not have here now.
    Exposure looks perfect.
    Are you shooting 2 exposures?
    How are you using masks?
    Last edited by dankearl; 05-13-2020 at 02:40 PM.
    Dan Kearl

  3. #3
    Avian Moderator Brian Sump's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Golden, CO
    Posts
    2,658
    Threads
    230
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Gail, stunning!

    When you use Topaz, may I ask at what point in your WF do you run the photo in? Also, any color issues when you export?

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Dan, I don't shoot 2 exposures. I use a very basic luminosity mask for highlights. Mike Poole taught me how. Super easy as I could not figure out the more complicated Tony Kruyper stuff .
    Brian, I do the basic stuff in LR , export to PS CC and it is the first thing I do. I select the BG and put it on its own layer and then invoke Topaz Denoise. I usually use the "auto" setting but always dial down the sharpening to 5 or less because I don't want anything sharpened in the BG.
    Very very rarely, I will run the bird on its own layer and use Denoise. I have not noticed any color issues with export.
    Hope this helps,
    Gail

  5. #5
    Avian Moderator Brian Sump's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Golden, CO
    Posts
    2,658
    Threads
    230
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Gail it does thank you.

  6. #6
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gail ... a stunning shot .
    Super simple and so clean , very nice !!
    Nice colors and comp is working well .

    Regarding the bright parts ... I would ask myself , is there detail visible in real life ??? If yes I would try to get the detail .... if not , why bother ??? I know depending on the light it does vary ....

    Just like to raise a general question for all folks here ... it does not seem clear what are those " luminosity masks " good for in image editing .
    Sometimes the wording " ran a luminosity mask on the HL " is used . Or you used the wording " use a luminosity mask but I did not do much for reveal detail " ....
    Would it not be great if one explains what he/she is doing to get the " potential details " .... the " luminosity mask " alone is doing nothing !!!

    In your case the basic luminosity mask cannot help ... as the selected tonal range is way too wide and will effect more than you wish .

    Just my 2 cents .

    TFS Andreas

  7. #7
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Dortmund / Germany
    Posts
    10,906
    Threads
    1,196
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Here is a version with slightly more detail in the lighter parts and I lifted the darker side very slightly .
    Not ideal as only the web image was available ...WDYT ?

  8. #8
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    12,487
    Threads
    1,892
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A very handsome frame. Yes, a BOAS, but what a lovely S. I can't comment on the pros and cons of luminosity masks, but I do see a slight improvement in Andreas' RP. Were it mine I might crop from the right to move the bird slightly more out of center and get rid of the dark band, and a bit up from bottom and top to maintain aspect ratio.

  9. #9
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Gail:

    The lighting is luminescent, outstanding. Love the tiny cones at the end of the perch, pose of bird, soft background.

    The dark band on right could be softened as mentioned. This is a good situation for using a luminosity mask and their are a variety of options with the resultant mask to lighten the area. I tried several of the blend modes and it came up nicely. The feather on the mask can be set so that the change blends in very nicely with the remainder of the background.

    Makes me want to set up in my backyard! The rose breasted grosbeaks are back, always a treat.

    Cheers

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

  10. #10
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good suggestions all and your repost looks good Andreas. Thank you. As I mentioned, my luminosity masking skills are extremely basic but usually do the job. I can see that you have much more finesse than I do with regards to using masks!
    Thanks Randy.
    Bill- good idea re:crop. I have lots of pixels so it would still maintain good IQ.
    Gail

  11. #11
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,773
    Threads
    1,093
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Looking very nice Gail...I absolutely love that perch. Lovely BG colours and the detail on the bird is very nice. Good pose and HA with good colours throughout the frame.

    Well done

    Will

  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stoney Point, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    6,868
    Threads
    512
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like BOAS images and this is a beauty Gail. I like the perch, light, IQ, details, pose and composition wise I would crop the dark part of the BG out.

  13. #13
    Lifetime Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    3,555
    Threads
    543
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Such a great looking bird captured in beautiful light, Gail. Nice eye contact, fine detail and love that perch with miniature pinecones, plus a lovely background. I would also remove the dark area in BG.


    Geoffrey




    http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

  14. #14
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful image with nice comp, lovely bird and nice perch. BG is sweet. Nice set up and terrific details Gail.

  15. #15
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Ithaca, NY
    Posts
    10,421
    Threads
    1,708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Looks spot on to me per your ususal. Love the balance the perch gives this one.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics