Tern photomerge

[Dan Brown]

This is an Elegant Tern in the act of drinking I think? 4 image merge using CS3's photomerge automation set to reposition only and blending unchecked. I erased the neccessary areas from each layer, flattened, cropped, sharpened and nr with Noiseware Pro.

[denise ippolito]

Very cool action created! I like the way you have 4 different poses and the way the slight reflection adds some reality. I do wish the birds were a tiny bit more spread out and that the wings weren't clipped at the ends-but this is very nice work and I do wish it were mine:)

[Hilary Hann]

Agree with Denise here regarding spacing of the birds and the wing clip, but the image attracted me immediately just from the thumbnail, and I like the graphics in it. I think your effort paid off.

[Mark Fuge]

Very nice image and application, Dan.

Like the series movement across the frame.

I can live with the spacing, as it appears natural to the actions shown. The drinking at the start of the ripples and the lifting of the head at the end and the other two image as well. Very nice.

I might like the wing tips in the frame, but if this were shot on one frame it wouldn't be possible! ;) So I feel it is acceptable as you show it. Now a 36"x54" framed piece would look great on the wall! ;) :D

[Cindy Cone]

Great action captured, and nice job with the merge, Dan. I like the lines created by the overlapping wings. I might crop some from the top and clone some of the lines in the water.

[Arthur Morris]

A bit more space would be nice but this is a fantastic image showing great vision and execution. The second and third frames are my favorites. I am with Cindy on getting rid of the lines at the top.

What camera and lens?

[Arthur Morris]

A second look (is is worth multiple viewings) reveals that it likely needs a healthy CCW rotation (based on the lines at the top).

[Dan Brown]

Thanks all for the great suggestions! In the repost, I included the wing tips, rotated about 2 degrees and attempted to blur the lines at the top and bottom.


Camera Model: NIKON D300, handheld
Shutter speed: 1/1500 sec
Aperture: 8
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 800
Lens: VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D
Focal length: 400mm
Focal length: 600mm (in 35mm film)
AF mode: AF-C

[Christopher Miller]

Very nice, Dan. Excellent poses and action, and they flow together so nicely. The repost looks perfect.

[Arthur Morris]

The repost has way, way more impact. Last version would be a pano with more space between the birds. Where?

[Dan Brown]

Thanks again guys! Artie, this was captured at the mouth of the Tijuana River, San Diego co, CA one month ago. Both the Elegant and Royal Terns were skimming to drink repeatedly. The water was probably very salty as the tide was coming in and the river was actually flowing backwards!

[denise ippolito]

Dan, The repost looks much better. The soft color palette is very soothing.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks again guys! Artie, this was captured at the mouth of the Tijuana River, San Diego co, CA one month ago. Both the Elegant and Royal Terns were skimming to drink repeatedly. The water was probably very salty as the tide was coming in and the river was actually flowing backwards!

Ah, Imperial Beach. May I assume that you walked down the beach because the whole creek area is still closed????

Lord, in the mid-80s there was no closed area there. If only I had digital and a long lens then.... Another great place down the tubes for nature photography.

Afternoon?

[Dan Brown]

Ah, Imperial Beach. May I assume that you walked down the beach because the whole creek area is still closed????

Lord, in the mid-80s there was no closed area there. If only I had digital and a long lens then.... Another great place down the tubes for nature photography.

Afternoon?

Yes, Artie the whole area is closed but you can walk down the the mouth. I sat at the edge of the river next to the closure rope in the late afternoon/evening. Lots of action with the terns flying in and out with and without fish but sadly, most of the real good action was way out of reach, especially for my whimpy lens:(.

[Arthur Morris]

Same old same old as far as bird and nature photography; let's close this spot!

[Mark Fuge]

I like the repost Dan, except for the ripple area. I liked the first one more as it was clearer. But understand you can't always have perfection! ;) Very nice post though.

[Cindy Cone]

Beautiful job with the repost, Dan. I like it a lot.

[Hilary Hann]

Love the repost, excellent.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Like the orig. just would have cropped it to more of a pano. Good photoshop work.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Dan, really nice! Super PS work!!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Dan, repost rocks - but so does the original :)

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful composition, Dan. Love the each of the pose and the repost. TFS.