Need some help with this one...

[Matt Lerer]

I'm not really happy with the overall look of this photo but love the interaction between the pair. The shot was taken in the morning and the light hitting the males face is more direct than the females thus creating a more intense or blown out look to it. I mentioned before that I don't do a lot of stuff with photoshop other than the basics so maybe this could have been corrected using a layer mask or something like it? I don't mind constructive criticism at all so let fly whatever you think needs help on this one...color, positioning/cropping, lightening, darkening...whatever will help me to be a better photographer and post processor! And...if I knew what I was doing with CS3 could the Bridge processing have helped any? Thanks so much!




40D
300mm
ISO 400
f8
1/2000th
- 1/3

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Matt

First thing I can say is that nesting images are very difficult because of all the sticks, nothing much you can do about it. This was taken with the sun fairly high in the sky, look at the shadow form the branch. You did acquired a good sun angle.

I was surprissed the whites came out as good with only the -1/3 What mode were you in?

From a PS point of view the image looks on the dark side Why don't you post the original just converted and will give it a try at processing gong through the steps !! Might be the best way :)

btw you got a good behavior, both with good head angle and all sharp !!!

[Colin Knight]

The lighting problem you are talking about is easily fixed. Just select the males' head and come of his neck. Feather that selection, then use levels to darken slightly.

You said you weren't very good with Photoshop, so....Recommend the magnetic lasso tool to select his head. Right click and select "feather". Depends on the size, just try "10 px". Hide selection border so you can see what you're doing (ctrl + h). Then ctrl + l to bring up "levels". Drag the dark marker down a bit.

Also, maybe a selective color filter would help improve the BG.

Great shot though, IMO. Really good!

Colin

[Dave Mills]

Hi Matt...For my taste I think the light is beautiful and I like the exposure based on the lighting you had. Excellent interaction between the 2 subjects with good head positions. Yes, there are alot of branches and I've seen cleaner shots but this is their environment. I also like the fact that you didn't cut off their feet.
There are ways you can bring back some of the white in the left hand subjects head. You could select that area
and try S/highlights and see if that helps or burn in that area. There are other ways and I'm sure someone else could give you some suggestions....

[Colin Knight]

How's this?

[Matt Lerer]

Hi Matt

First thing I can say is that nesting images are very difficult because of all the sticks, nothing much you can do about it. This was taken with the sun fairly high in the sky, look at the shadow form the branch. You did acquired a good sun angle.

I was surprissed the whites came out as good with only the -1/3 What mode were you in?

From a PS point of view the image looks on the dark side Why don't you post the original just converted and will give it a try at processing gong through the steps !! Might be the best way :)

btw you got a good behavior, both with good head angle and all sharp !!!

I hope I don't sound dumb but the camera was set on 'AV'...would that be the mode? Here is the image. I just converted it resetting everything back to '0' and re-cropped it. The only difference is I cloned the eye from a few shots later after the membrane wasn't covering the females eye...so it's not in this one (original eye).

[Matt Lerer]

How's this?

I like that a lot and the females face looks loads better!

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Matt,
I like the composition and capture...you have sharp details with good head angles and sharp eye contacts...Love the action and the habitat...the lighting issue and corresponding techs. have been well addressed...congrats on the capture...looking forward to your next one...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Matt

Yes I was checking if you were metering on AV or manual. In Av with just the - 1/3 I'm having trouble understanding how the image ended so dark? It is a good setting and with the given light maybe the whites should have been burned.

Next is to check the histogram and see what it looks like ... remember to have some data on the last box to the right !!!

btw on the camera make sure you metering mode is set to evaluative metering (not spot or center weighted)

..... excellent re post !!!!

[David Thomasson]

Lots of possibilities. Here's one approach. I used selective color adjustment layers affecting only cyans and blues, so only the background was changed. I used circular gradients to lighten the center and darken toward the edges, centering attention on the birds heads.

[Matt Lerer]

Hey David,

I like what you have done with the image too!!! It gives me some ideas!

[Lance Peters]

Great interaction shot - really like it - all the techs covered above along with some great advice on tweaks.
looking forward to more.

[Nonda Surratt]

I do love how they are almost entwined, lovely image. Great tips and tweaks from all.

[Kathy Reeves]

I think this image is stunning!