Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Crescent or Checkerspot

  1. #1
    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    1,236
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default Crescent or Checkerspot

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    From the SFSU Sierra Nevada butterfly workshop, June, 2008.

    Canon 20D, 300mm, f9.0 @1/320, ISO 200, pattern metering, 0 EV, manual mode, HH

    PP: Lightroom 2.6
    cropped tight to minimize cluttered BG
    exposure: set black and white points
    tone curve: brought darks and shadows down, lights up
    sharpening and NR
    clone tool: removed dust spots from butterfly wings and body, removed dead plant material and a big rock at top L and R
    adjustment brush: selective sharpening on wings and head, lightened and darkened gravel areas above BF
    post-crop vignette

    This is my first attempt at removing so much from the BG. Not sure if I pulled this one off. I think the transition is too obvious. C&C welcome, as always!
    Last edited by Julie Brown; 02-17-2010 at 11:18 AM.
    My photoblog: juliebrown.aminus3.com

    My galleries: julielbrown.smugmug.com

    My WordPress blog: indybirdphotographer.com


    "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”.

    John Muir

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    765
    Threads
    32
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I think you did really well with the PP work. I can't even see where you removed the rocks and plant material. I like the warm colours and you captured nice detail. You can even remove a little bit of space from the bottom if you want to.:)

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mifflin, TN
    Posts
    2,799
    Threads
    379
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I also think you did well with the cloning. Tilting the 'fly a bit would be a good idea.

    I'm not a big fan of photos of variegated looking species of 'flies on dirt. Because the bug is so close to what's in the BG, there's not enough separation and the BG looks too sharp but it's always worth taking the shot. At least you have a record of the species. :)

  4. #4
    Julie Kenward
    Guest

    Default

    Nice cloning but it is a bit lighter in tone...I'd pull that back with either a multiply blend mode (masking off the bf and bottom half) or try using a levels or curves adjustment in that area.

    I really like the view of the butterfly and the way it blends so well with it's surroundings!

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Memphis, TN
    Posts
    1,873
    Threads
    320
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Julie,
    To me you did fine with the cloning. Like Ken, I'm not a big fan of butterflies in dirt but of course I would have also hustled to take this shot myself of a beautiful species I rarely get to see.

  6. #6
    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    1,236
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Vida, Ken, Jules, and Alan for the comments. Now I feel more confident to do this to other images! :cool:

    Jules, I will take this image into PSE and try to figure out what you're talking about. :confused:

    This was my best image of this BF, but I am glad to have a record of this species, even if it was in the dirt!:D
    My photoblog: juliebrown.aminus3.com

    My galleries: julielbrown.smugmug.com

    My WordPress blog: indybirdphotographer.com


    "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”.

    John Muir

  7. #7
    Mike Moats
    Guest

    Default

    Hey Julie, sometimes you have to work with what is presented, you did a nice job, my suggestion would be to have given some tilt/angle in the body and wings.

  8. #8
    Ákos Lumnitzer
    Guest

    Default

    THe only thing I can notice is the darkening above the BF, especially above the wings. A layer mask should help I think, but I only tried once and it's a bit of fiddling. Otherwise a nice capture showing good habitat.

  9. #9
    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    1,236
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Mike and Akos for the additional comments.I don't know how to do layer masks in PS Elements so I just went back to the things I know how to do in Lightroom. I did a bit more cloning, tilted the butterfly, and used the GND filter to bring down the brightness above the wings. Here is the repost.:)

    oops! forgot the attachment.
    My photoblog: juliebrown.aminus3.com

    My galleries: julielbrown.smugmug.com

    My WordPress blog: indybirdphotographer.com


    "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”.

    John Muir

  10. #10
    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    1,236
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Now I can see that the ULC is too dark.
    Last edited by Julie Brown; 02-17-2010 at 07:38 PM.
    My photoblog: juliebrown.aminus3.com

    My galleries: julielbrown.smugmug.com

    My WordPress blog: indybirdphotographer.com


    "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”.

    John Muir

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