Sandhill Cranes

[Nonda Surratt]

Good morning! This is a lemonade out of lemons image. Yes they do hang out at the JP in Indiana, it was an overnight event (Don hasn't been in a hotel since keys were used). I thought Ohio could get socked in with gloom, IN? WOW, not only HEAVY overcast (dark) and fog. We had late afternoon/evening (Nov 07) and early morning, now whining>>> The worst, by far, light or lack there of I have ever had to deal with, but man seeing all those ShC's was stupendous! I really, really underexposed this image, it is full frame. The BG is not natural but going
more for looks???

M111,300f2.8+2xtc @ f5.6, ISO 800, 1/1000

[Desmond Chan]

The cranes look very good Nonda so don't know what you mean by "really, really underexposed". May be you could show us the original? :)

Happy New Year!

[Barry Goggin]

Nonda, you did a good job. I can see what appears to be noise on the underwing of the right hand crane probably after lightening the underexposed image some selective noise reduction might help.
Also it would be nice to add a highlight to the eye of the right hand crane as it appears quite dull.
There is a white halo outline around the birds which is either from changing the background or from too much sharpening. It makes them looks like they were pasted in so i think it would be worthwhile eliminated the halo. The cranes themselves look great and you did well under such conditions.

[Amy DeStefanis]

I wish my lemons made such good lemonade. The detail in the feathers, and the light look great to me!

Amy D.

[Nonda Surratt]

The org for Desmond..Some of the lightness around the birds(edges) was just there,not much sharpening done, did work on some of the lightness between wing tips. Yes there is noise under the one wing, I don't have NR software:). This would normally be a hit the trash image,but who knows when I'll see one again. I really, really don't like post processing much:o

[Gail Spitler]

Nonda - absolutely beautiful composition. Agree with Barry's comments. Otherwise it is stunning!
Happy New Year
Gail

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Really nice Nonda, prefer the sky of the original. Good PP work! If these are lemons, I think you are setting pretty high standards:)

[Nonda Surratt]

Went in a removed any light outlines I could see..Thanks Jackie

[titus.ebbecke]

Wow, this is FANTASTIC. Love the pose and the details.

[Barry Goggin]

Nonda, that looks great. They look like they belong there now. Great lemonade

[Nonda Surratt]

Thanks folks...Eyes now crossed and blurry from fixing lines Barry;)

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Nonda,
I like it as presented...a huge improvement over the original file...:Dyou have sharp details...I like the tight flight formation, and I like the tones and hues of your background...really nice...:cool:

[David Thomasson]

Outstanding! The hues you chose for the sky work perfectly with the subjects. You have a fine sense of color.

[denise ippolito]

Nonda, Really nice gradient BG- Great composition-well done!

[Alfred Forns]

Excellent Save Nonda !!! ... not bad PS work either !!!

Would have like to see the second bird with a full stretch wing position, the head merge looks good since its covered by the wing !! Would also take a little of the bottom It is making soup out of a rock !!! :)

[Harold Davis]

fantastic ps work, mrs n! you created some nice dramatic light.

[Dave Leroy]

Very nice Nonda. Nice and sharp, good light and bg. great pose. and all in tough conditions. Good one.
Dave

[Nonda Surratt]

Thanks all! Hopefully I'll get to see Sh's again someday.

[Katie Rupp]

Nonda, your lemonade is wonderful. You got good head angles on both, the lighting on the repost is beautiful and there is good detail. I would take it in a minute!!!