Crane Fix?
Anybody think they can salvage this? I love the photo, except
of course, for that wonderful shadow.
The head really isn't a problem, I can copy and flip the other side.
Its everything from the neck down thats driving me nutso.
Or should I just face facts and pitch it?
Thanks
Doug
Doug,
Interesting that you brought this question up. I was doing a private workshop today and discussed the particular situation with my participant. We were photographing a Caracara and with the light direction, the same shadow occurs. I instructed her to (a) move to a better light angle and (b) only capture an image when the bird turned its head to obscure this shadow. We did not have flash to use.
I don't find this type of shadow flattering. In the field you could try fill flash to fill the shadow. You mentioned the neck down issue so I am assuming that have a full body image as well. In Photoshop you could try Shadow/Highlight adjustment of Fill Light in Adobe Camera Raw. I generally stil don't like that fix as it looks "fixed".
You could duplicate the right side onto the left side but my preference is to make the image front-lite in better (earlier morning/later afternoon) light and at a head angle not creating this type of shadow.
Hi Doug would go for the suggested soft light Lining up with the sun at your back Keep that bg will have on impressive image !!!!
btw you can use the ruler tool (lives with the eyedropper in PS) Click drag a line between the pupils go to image rotate canvas arbitrary and the image will be straight Now the left eye is a bit higher than the right Symmetry makes a difference in these image i like it a lot !!!!!
Unfortunately, this was back in Bosque 2006 when I was still learning. Back thenOriginally Posted by Alfred Forns
I was just happy I got an image this close. Thats why this image has always nagged me,
if I knew now what I knew then...
Doug
For me, I'd keep the image (for the memories), but I wouldn't invest a bunch of time trying to "make" this a perfect image. The shadow is a bit harsh and distracting, but I'm confident that you'll eventually get another opportunity to photograph just the head of a Sandhill Crane (try the Florida Sandhill subspecies if Bosque doesn't work out!) The right side that has the better light has the softer eye too...next time you have an opportunity like this make sure you nail that focus on the eyes. :)
Doug you will be amazed at the images you will be deleting a year from now !!!!
Agree with Alfred. Give you a great reason to go back and try for a similar image.
I just took down an Eastern Meadow Lark image from my wall that I made 4 years ago. Today I would delete it due to a harsh shadow.
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