Today, on a foggy morning, I caught this guy as he was going to a new place to fish. The crop is minor, then I used some vibrance and clarity in Lightroom and fairly heavy USM in Elememts. I have better images of him in the usual stationary hunting position, but this "different" pose interests me. Is it of any interest to you? And how can I improve my post processing? And should it be brighter? Etc.?
Hi Wendell,
I like your image and capture. It looks just slightly under exposed. The subject is too close to the center. I did a few modifications to enhance your image, hope you like...I cropped from the top about 1/4; cropped from the right another 1/4, to off set the bird; gave you selective sharpening on the eye and lightened it slightly. Also selective sharpened the feathers, and kicked up the contrast and hues a little...:cool:
HI Wendell here is another approach There has to be a half dozen ways to make changes I went the curves rout which my most comfortable and powerful.
Did a curves adjustment and then added a couple of points of neutral/black in selective color Thats it I do like the crop Gus made but did not crop my version so you could compare easier. I think the thing we are trying is obtaining more edge contrast !!
You made it look better, Gus; thanks. Until I actually see it, I usually think placing the bird so far away from the center will not work very well, but it does. And yours looks better brighter, too.
I know this is no place to conduct a Photoshop seminar, but I would really appreciate some further guidance (what to do; where to read about it, etc.) for Alfred's "added a couple of points of neutral/black in selective color". I've tried to find an answer (with no success) so that I could execute the instruction on this and on other images. I do have an older edition of Photoshop, but use Elements 5.0 routinely. Can anyone help with this?
Go to www.birdsasart.com and find the CD with digital basics. That's where I first started. I also bought the John Shaw CD on editing in CS3, and the Robert O'Toole masking techniques. I have found them very good as a foundation.
I also subscribe to a magazine called Digital Photo from the UK. It is expensive by the time you get it across the pond but does have some good tips and tricks for Photoshop. I am sure you could find an equivalent US mag.
Maybe this will point you in the right direction. If you want to find out more about adding black to the neutrals and blacks there was a previous comment on this under one of the threads. You go Image/Adjustments/Selective Colour, then it will bring up a box select Black, then add one or two points. Do thing same for the neutrals. You should do it on a separate layer so you can delete it if you don't like it. You can also access Selective colour under the layers palette, click on the circle which is half white/half black, then click on "Selective Colour". This will creat a new layer/copy of the original which you can work on.
Jackie, your help is appreciated -- and I got even more than I'd expected. I tried the procedure you outlined and it works very well. I will pursue your other suggestions. Thanks, again!!!
that digital photo mag that jackie is referring to can be found in most bookstores like barnes and nobles and borders. they carry most of the better english mags.
nice shot. like gus's crop and al's work on the contrast.
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