Improve this shot?

[arash_hazeghi]

Not such a briliant snap but maybe worth a try?

[Tell Dickinson]

OK Arash, I had a quick go :)

[Alfred Forns]

This image illustrates the current controversy of cloning to the Max !!! Some will say its fine others will cry murder !!!! What is right? ... I have no clue.

The image does look better with the simpler perch but not sure I like the over saturated bg? Would slightly increase the contrast only Do like the pose, open beak and careful positioning in frame. A little extra room up top and to the right with enough around the tail !!! Excellent !!!

[David Thomasson]

Nice singing pose, and the perch has its interesting features. Lots of possibilities for the full-size image if you're willing to mess around with it for awhile.

[arash_hazeghi]

Wow David,
This is so much better! How did you swap the BG is such a clean way?

Thanks

[David Thomasson]

Wow David,
This is so much better! How did you swap the BG is such a clean way?

Thank you. The key is to paint a clean mask. I masked the subject and the parts of the perch I wanted to keep. I put that on a blank layer and cloned over everything that wasn't masked. From there you can use the mask to blur the background, paint over it with brushes or gradients, adjust it with curves, etc.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks David, much appriciated, did you use the paint brush to paint the mask or the selection tool? I tried the brush but the edges didn't come out very well.

[Harold Davis]

great repost by david. i like the original too. great pose and action. david simplifying the image makes it a keeper for sure!!

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Arash,
I like your base capture, the only branch that I would clone out is the one touching the bird's body...the original perch does not bother me, its called habitat...David's repost puts it over the top...well done...:cool:

[Ian McHenry]

I too am really impressed with David's repost.
Clarity of bird is also enhanced beautifully.
Is this increased saturation or contrast?
A fine learning thread.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[David Thomasson]

I too am really impressed with David's repost.
Clarity of bird is also enhanced beautifully.
Is this increased saturation or contrast?
A fine learning thread.
Cheers: Ian Mc

Thanks, Ian. Enhancement of the bird included levels, selective color (+black levels in the reds and yellows), and shadow/highlight.
Dulling the background (decreasing saturation) also makes the bird's details more emphatic.

[Ian McHenry]

Thanks DavidI sure have a lot to learn !!!Cheers: Ian Mc