Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: My mother loves me - aren't I cute?

  1. #1
    Jeni Williams
    Guest

    Default My mother loves me - aren't I cute?

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Maribou Stork taken at Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga. Got to admit it's cute with it's wild hairstyle:D
    Canon EOS 40D
    AV priority
    f/ 5.6
    exp time: 1/1250sec
    Exp bias +0.33
    Focal length: 240mm.
    Metering mode: evaluative
    Last edited by Jeni Williams; 08-26-2009 at 11:03 AM.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    26,266
    Threads
    3,976
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I guess cute can have different meanings! I'd call this guy's look "quirky" :-)

    Focus point seems to be on the body and this has rendered the face and hair areas softer. Some selective sharpening would likely help on those areas. I also wish for a better head angle. I'm not super fond of your border. Good comp coming out of the corner, and you exposed this guy adequately. I like the feathers at bill tip :-)

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Cheltenham, Glos UK
    Posts
    2,754
    Threads
    206
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jeni,
    Well I think he's cute!!!
    Agree with Daniel's comments and I'm not wild about the border either. I love the colours around his face.
    Best,
    Nicki

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,439
    Threads
    47
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    HI Jeni, I like the composition. The background is also pleasing as I think it complements the bird nicley. Daniel covered my other comments. Thanks for sharing.

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jeni, I think you nailed the exposure, with good feather detail captured. With regards to the sharpness, I feel its only the first third of the beak from the eye that needs a bit of selective sharpening. I like the BG too.

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    26,266
    Threads
    3,976
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Jenny, did you replace the image?? I can swear it is sharper now than it was before...

  7. #7
    Jeni Williams
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Guys, thanks for comments. I know most don't like borders but every now and then I get the urge :(;)
    Daniel, I haven't sharpened because it looked oversharpened on my screen, but did up the contrast. I was timed out once it was posted and when I managed to log on again it looked a bit washed out. Weird how the images differ with different programs even though I'm viewing them on the same screen!! I will add the sharpened version once I have finished it so you can compare. Thanks for the advice - much appreciated.
    Stu. I lifted the shadow a bit on the top third - maybe I should burn them back a bit - will try.
    Last edited by Jeni Williams; 08-26-2009 at 01:40 PM.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    1,889
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stuart Bowie View Post
    Hi Jeni, I think you nailed the exposure, with good feather detail captured. With regards to the sharpness, I feel its only the first third of the beak from the eye that needs a bit of selective sharpening. I like the BG too.
    As Stu said. Worth a bit of TLC, although another vote for removal of border, :). Presentable without it, an dis distracts slightly. WD!

  9. #9
    Jeni Williams
    Guest

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Have now selectively sharpened upper beak and top of head. (Still looks over sharpened on my screen?) Also burnt back the dark on the top third.
    Removed border :( :o
    Hope this is better?
    Last edited by Jeni Williams; 08-26-2009 at 02:17 PM.

  10. #10
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    No border = better but the head turned away hurts the image a bunch (and is a good part of the cause of the unsharpness in the bill). Easing off on the red SAT and doing a 40 pixel Gaussian blur on the BKGR would improve the repost. I do like the hair do and the EXP is good.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  11. #11
    Jeni Williams
    Guest

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thank you Art - have done what you suggested. Decreased Red saturation by 9% and bg blurred by 40pixels.
    I agree re Head angle - have got another with a slightly better one, let's see what I've learnt today. Appreciate all the advice.:)
    Last edited by Jeni Williams; 08-27-2009 at 02:31 AM.

  12. #12
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the de-SATed REDS and most of the BKGR looks better, but I should have realized that this would be a very tough selection; you can see all of the places right around the bird where (I guess) that you erased the Gaussian Blur. You did not do badly around the top of the head so if you want to learn to do it better, go here: http://birdsasart.com/bn294.htm and scroll down to PHOTOSHOP BACKGROUND TRICK. It might be best with this image to use a 50% hardness brush when you erase the edges.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics