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Thread: willow ptarmigan

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer thijs broekkamp's Avatar
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    Default willow ptarmigan

    Hello,
    This is my first post here. I will introduce myself a bit here. I'm thijs broekkamp, 15 years old now, and i live in the netherlands. Since 1,5 year seriously into photographing. I saw this willow ptarmigan on holiday in fins lapland on a snowshoe walk, and the bird flew in front of me and followed me for like a half an hour! This photo was made with my compact, lumix dmc-fz50, before i had my dslr. I cropped a little, take the contrast up.

  2. #2
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Welcome to BPN, Thijs! Very nice first post. I like the high key and unusual composition. Adjusting the midtones brings out a bit more separation between the plumage and snow. There are some artifacts in the background due to compression. You can post images up to 200kB. I look forward to more of your images.

  3. #3
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Thijs:

    Thanks for posting this one, and a big welcome to BPN. It is a great place to learn. Many talented photographers here who are willing to help.

    I agree with Axel's tech. comments. For my taste you do need to generate at least a touch of separation between the birds plumage and the snow. Not much, just enough to discern it.

    Look forward to more images.

    Randy

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    BPN Member Tony Whitehead's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Welcome, Thijs. Lovely first post - I am a big fan of high key images like this. I agree with Axel and Randy that some separation of the bird and BG is important. I have tried a version pushing the midpoint slider on a levels adjustment layer to the right (probably too far by way of illustration) then masking that just to the bird's plumage. I also selected the reds and desaturated them slightly as this can bring out a little more detail if they are clipping. Looking forward to more of your images.
    Tony Whitehead
    Visit my blog at WildLight Photography for latest news and images.

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    But I just love the original idea here. Well done Thijs! Essentially the bird disappears into the BG which is exactly what evolution had in mind for a Willow Ptarmigan. Tony's repost is another interpretation which I like as well.

    At 15 years old you have a big head start on most of us, so I suggest we all watch this young photographer! You will find BPN very useful Thijs.

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    I quite like the idea, too. I may be tempted to add just a tad of details to the bird though. Perhaps some crop off the top, too !

    I've never seen that bird before and so thank you for sharing your photo of it !!

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer thijs broekkamp's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the comments. Very usefull comment about the bg and the bird. @Tony, thank you for making that. Looks really good!

  8. #8
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Hey Thijs, Welcome. I love seeing young folks into bird photography. While I appreciate Tony's repost and his great work here at BPN, (albeit for high pay :) :) :)--not!) I gotta say that I love your original interpretation. Congrats and we hope to see you hanging around here some more.
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