I captured this image of a Snowy Egret on my most recent journey to Blackpoint Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Island, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.
Nikon D500
Nikon 500mm PF, Handheld
I/3200 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 1250 Auto 1 WB, image captured at 500mm (750mm 35mm Equivalent)
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2022 and Topaz Denoise AI
Cropped from 2x3 to 4x5 for composition and presentation
Last edited by Joseph Przybyla; 02-02-2022 at 03:54 PM.
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
I usually like to se herons with their elegant necks extended, but I think this hunkered pose works well with the incredible eye contact; it's an amazingly-engaging frame. Exposure and details also look good. Nicely done!
Hi Joe, I like the simplicity of the shot and the overall colour palette. Have you considered going to a square crop? The whites look a bit 'dirty' going for a more 'pristine'brighter' white makes the subject really pop and there is a lot more detail within the capture I'm sure you can still extract. But going for a cleaner look may get away from the true plumage colour? Using Colour balance in PS may help in enriching the Green backdrop which then lends the capture to having a cool POP to it overall.
TFS
Steve
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Hi Joe, I like the simplicity of the shot and the overall colour palette. Have you considered going to a square crop? The whites look a bit 'dirty' going for a more 'pristine'brighter' white makes the subject really pop and there is a lot more detail within the capture I'm sure you can still extract. But going for a cleaner look may get away from the true plumage colour? Using Colour balance in PS may help in enriching the Green backdrop which then lends the capture to having a cool POP to it overall.
TFS
Steve
Hi Steve, thank you for viewing and commenting. I tried brightening the whites with the white slider and with a curve. I seemed to gain more detail in some areas and loose it in others, so this is a balance that seemed the best. The day was very overcast, showers off and on, fighting light most of the day. I think the whites appear a bit dirty is because not much light reflecting off the bird. I'll give the image another look, thanks again.
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
I give you credit for trying these awkwardly-framed images ... This one just does not do anything for me. The mixed light is problematic, and the bird seems disheveled at best ... Though I like the eyes looking down the lens barrel the bill is pointed to our left ...
with love, artie
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