I made this image in Yellowstone in 2005. I was early in my digital photography and nature photography education when this image was made. I always liked the raised leg and the eye contact. However, the image never seemed to look the way I wanted it to. These animals are so hard to get and I waited so long for her to leave her den - it was cold, windy, and intermittent rain around 6:00 PM - that I have been emotionally attached to this image.
Using CS4 and new skills mostly learned here I re-worked the image this afternoon.
It is a large crop which represents about 60% of the original. Preliminary processing in Light Room. Then exported to CS4. The image has strong side lighting so the badger's left side (our right) is in deep shadow. I selected the badger's side and created a layer on which I used curves RGB and then curves color selections to bring out some detail. I created another layer and lightened the left eye. Then with a final layer I burned some BG and boosted the saturation just a tad. I sharpened with PK Sharpener, one layer overall and an additional layer on the Badger and a bit in the FG. While I still don't think it is perfect it is 1000% better than my original processing in 2005.
Camera stuff is 1DMK2 with 100-400 @ 400. Evaluative metering at EV -2/3 @ ISO 800 with f 7.1 and 1/800. I am pretty sure I was using a tripod .
Thanks for looking C&C are most welcome.
Last edited by Ed Cordes; 04-26-2009 at 05:43 PM.
Reason: Added ISO Data
Nice pose you captured and I like the environmental inclusion. You did a good job on bringing out the shadowed side of the badger. IMO the catchlight on the shadowed side looks a bit unnatural and should be toned down some. The posted version seems oversharpened as well which accentuates the shadows from the contrasty light. I played with it a bit and came up with this. I ran some NR and reduced the holding of detail to smooth out the oversharpening. I also dulled down the contrast and brightness on the shadowed eye. I then duplicated the image and ran some Gaussian Blur (masking out the effect on the badger). A little S/H to taste for a final step. I don't know what the conditions were really like so I could be way off base. Probably let a little of my personal preference slip in as well. If you want me to delete, let me know.
Steve, thanks for your comments and input. I appreciate the work you did. You are right about the sharpening. I am still having problems getting the right amount for web presentation. The print does not look over sharpened like the web version does. It seems to be something in my "save for web" process. The image on the screen after resizing and sharpening looks good then after saving for web it looks a lot more sharpened. I will continue to work on this.
Re the rest of your suggestions. I like what you did to the eye. I like the contrast of the face on the original and prefer a bit more sharpening of the environment than your re post - especially the FG.
In any case I think it is personal preferences. Again I thank you for your input. I always learn for these things.
Super comp Ed, and love the eye contact in this. In your original, I would maybe take a bit off the top. Steve has done a great job on the S/H and by reducing the sharpening. Still a great sighting from your part Ed.
Wonderful image of a reclusive mammal Ed. Easy to see why you're attached to it. I think the rework that you've done and the suggestions from Steve really make this a keeper.
Badger Re-work From 2005
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