Common Greenshank

[Victor Soares]

Spent some time at one of my favourite spots. Weather was lousy and the sun struggled to get it's rays out, so the pickings were slim.

Was happy to get this Commen Greenshank sharp but don't know how to improve it much from what I have achieved.

Personally don't like the grey background (actually water) and deliberately left the clump of rock in the image in order to ground it.

please comment and advise.

Regards,
Vic

[John Cooper]

I quite like this image Victor - you have caught the action in nice diffused light and the image is sharp - not the best head angle but thats how it was.
The BG actually resembles a grey sky so I would tend to clone out the OOF rocks to strengthen a 'sky' appearance.

[Steve Ashton]

Nice capture well done. For me the lump of rock must go. It draws the eye and spoils otherwise good image.

[Mike Dale]

One of my favourite birds of all time. I love to listen to the Tchoo Tchoo Tchoo call they make.

I agree about the rock, loose that and it's much better.

[Arthur Morris]

I do not mind the rock blob but the bird is way-oversharpened... I suspect that focus was on the wing rather than the face. ITC, best to slectively sharpen only the head... later and love, artie

[Daniel Cadieux]

I have mixed emotions about that rock, but John makes a good point about the BG looking like the sky. I really love the single drop trailing off the bird's feet!

[Jim Poor]

I think the rock would work better if it were in focus and smoother.

[Victor Soares]

thanks for the tips and comments guys - much appreciated. I will try to get rid of the rock and see how that works.

Arthur, I use Photokit Sharpener and once I have sized the image I use settings of Low Res Sharpen and Super Fine Edge Sharpen. I am not sure if you are aware of the plug-in, but that is what I use. I would not know what to do in order to apply selective sharpening, so any help would be great !!

[Jim Poor]

Hi Victor,

Here is one method for selective sharpening. It should work just fine with a plug in.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php?t=6334

There are other methods, but they are all roads to the same destination.

[Victor Soares]

Awesome !!! Thanks Jim !! Gonna try that right now ... can we post re-worked images in the same thread?

[Dave Phillips]

agree about the rocks....and the tiny water drop is quite nice.
Once you get that selective sharpening worked out, might pop that little water drop a bit

[Victor Soares]

is this any better ?

tried the selective sharpening ang dropped the rock ....

[Jim Poor]

Personally I like it better this way.
There is a bit of a sharpening halo on the bill. You can erase the sharpening from that area if you saved the layers.

[Tony Whitehead]

I prefer the repost, Victor. You can use the sharpening brushes under creative sharpening of Photokit Sharpener to do selective sharpening It basically sharpens the whole image but conceals it under a layer mask until you brush it into the area you want sharpened

[Victor Soares]

You can use the sharpening brushes under creative sharpening of Photokit Sharpener to do selective sharpening It basically sharpens the whole image but conceals it under a layer mask until you brush it into the area you want sharpened

Thanks Jim and Tony ... Tony that is exactly what I did on the face and shoulders and a little all over the bird. Does indeed look more natural.