This is the only usable image of this first year heron that I was able to get, so I accepted the backlighting and tried to see what I could do with the image with my slowly improving ps skills. I have done quite a bit of post-processing: blurring the background, cloning some distracting plants out, and general image quality tweaks. I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
There is a bit of a sad story about this bird. It is probably a young bird, born this year. It was unable to feed because of something entangling its tongue and down its throat. Human detritus is such a peril to wild birds.
Thanks for looking
Gail
Canon 40D, 100-400mm lens at 400mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, EV with 0 comp, ISO 640
Hi Gail,
What a sad story - it is so upsetting and frustrating to hear time and time again how our selfish behaviour causes such distress to wildlife.
As regards the picture, I do find the lighting a little distracting. It looks to me as if it is coming more from the side than the back, as the rocks look very bright. Perhaps you could do a selective shadow/highlight on the bird to lighten it a little. I would also be tempted to tone down the circles in the BG a little more. Looks like you did a great job with the cloning etc!!
Regards,
Nicki
I like the great feather detail, and the beak and eye are very sharp, and the foot action is another plus in this image. To me the post behind the bird is distracting. Since the post is the largest item in the image, it keeps drawing my eye away from the GBH's face to the post. I would like to see a tighter crop to make the bird larger in the image.
Hi Gail,
I like the composition; three things that catch my eye...:D I would clone out the drift wood next to your subject, it takes away attention from the bird, I would burn the hot spots on the rocks, especially the one between his feet and he needs about 1 degree of CW rotation on the head...:cool:
Thanks Nicki, Cheryl and Gus for the suggestions. I did work on the highlights in the bg, but can certainly see that they can be toned down even more. I take the point about the wood - too large.
Gus, I am not sure what you mean by 'burn the hot spots'. Can you explain a bit?
Thanks again
Gail
Gail, I also need to calibrate my monitor. Until I can afford the money for the program, I check my image in "Save for Web" before finishing my adjusting. For my computer, that is more accurate than the images I see in my photoshop program.
Does anyone know how to adjust the PS program to be more accurate to how an image actually will appear??
Hi - Sad Story - all good suggestions above, nothing else to add.
Cheryl - the monitor calibration is a important part, I would think this is the only reason that what you are seeing on your screen does not match what you get - unless you have your workspace setup to something other than SRGB.
Have you used the Calibration strip at the bottom of this screen??? Adjust your screen so that each block is defined and they dont merge into one.
Hi Gail You probably the best possible form your location. Tough conditions and no way to eliminate all the problems. Secret is selecting when to push the shutter and when not to ... this was one of the not to times.
If you could have isolated the bird on top of a rock could have made it work. As presented you have the stump dominating the foreground without adding to the image, dead space to the right and the bird overlapped with rocks. Do take your time and wait for the right moment. Wish him the best and hope he gets over the tangled mess !!!!
Very good point, Al. Well put. Probably relates to taking snapshots versus creating an intentional image. And I do find myself slipping into snapshot mode when I really want to be painting with light as Gus would say.
Gail
Great Blue Heron
