Emu Close-up

[Mark Theriot]

Thoughts on this one are welcome please! I think I did a better job of getting a more uniform background (trying to pay more attention to that) but I think I could have shot at a slightly smaller aperture to increase the DOF around the head though.

Mark

260mm
f/5.6
1/180

[David Thomasson]

Very striking. Nice close-up of a strange critter. Background works well with the subject.

All I would do it adjust levels for color and brightness, give a little extra (S/H) to that amazing red eye, clone out the little white threat at the tip of the beak, and sharpen. All are small adjustment to a fine image. Good work.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Mark,
I like the ultra close up pose...you have sharp details and good color rendition...David's color adjusted repost takes this over the top...congrasts on a good capture...looking forward to more...:cool:

[Mark Theriot]

Thanks Gus, you're right about over the top - Wow David! They might be little adjustments but they really bring it to life!

What program did you use for the tweaking, PhotoShop? What exactly did you do to the eye, looks fantastic!

Mark

[Alfred Forns]

David ... first time I've seen one of those birds made to look good :)

Nice one Mark I have tons of images of those birds and not one that I like as much as yours !!! You have a much better looking bird with more hair on his head !! Got a keeper !!!

[denise ippolito]

Mark, Well done portrait and crystal clear eye. David's re-post is fantastic! Very nice details and HA.

[Katie Rupp]

Agreed! great original image and a repost that makes it all come together like magic.

[David Thomasson]

Thanks Gus, you're right about over the top - Wow David! They might be little adjustments but they really bring it to life!

What program did you use for the tweaking, PhotoShop? What exactly did you do to the eye, looks fantastic!

Mark

Thank you, Mark. I used Photoshop CS3. Ran shadow/highlight and applied it just to the eye. Also goosed the catchlight with a screen layer (a null levels adjustment layer in screen mode).

[David Thomasson]

David ... first time I've seen one of those birds made to look good :)

Thanks, Al. I was going to comb the hair out, but then I thought, naaaaa ... :D

[Lance Peters]

Well done David - fine repost - Love the in your face feel to this , BG compliments the bird nicely. Like it aa lot.

[Jay Gould]

Thank you, Mark. I used Photoshop CS3. Ran shadow/highlight and applied it just to the eye. Also goosed the catchlight with a screen layer (a null levels adjustment layer in screen mode).

David, what is the trick to have the eye changing intensity? Like it!

And, of course, I like the image too.

[Mark Theriot]

I learned a lot from this. I used David's changes as a template and was able to duplicate the results in Aperture using Nik plug-ins.

Mark

[David Thomasson]

David, what is the trick to have the eye changing intensity? Like it!

And, of course, I like the image too.

Hi Jay, it's an animated gif. You use the animation panel in Photoshop -- Window > Animation. Check the help files for animated gif. They have a pretty good step-by-step procedure. It's not hard.