Processed in RAW, took the blacks down to zero, and then in PP used lab (curves, up a point) and that seemed to put the blacks in check.
Also tried to tone down the highlights on the beak using select colour range, dup and using the subtract blending mode. The bill could use more work.
Cropped (about 30 percent) and straightened.
Downsizing and converting really killed the red eye that was quite vibrant.
C & C Appreciated.
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal length: 400 mm (equiv. 649 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/1600"
ISO speed rating: 519/28°
Program: Aperture-Priority AE (Manual)
Metering Mode: Evaluative
White Balance: Cloudy
Focus Mode: Single-point AF
Noise Reduction: On (Mode 3)
Flash: Flash did not fire
Hi Jackie Proud of you This is really nice, love the bg and the PS is excellent !! ... all starts with a strong image with a good bg !!! btw the eye of those birds do look a bit red on their own, wouldn't mind having a little more.
Good solid blacks (with detail) and excellent post to maximize dof !! Settings wise would not have minded stopping down at least one since the bg does not come into play, might help for the feathers around the periphery, would try sharpening a bit One area we usually neglect (starting with me) but I feel those are as important as the eye itself !!!! You get a Big Time Congrats on this one on all points !!!
Did more sharpening which I normally do, smoothed the BG out a bit more because of more artifacts in the BG. Lightened and added vibrance to the eye. Al, very good suggestions, would never have thought about the edge feathers. Richard thanks for the comment.
Beautiful image, Jackie. Love the pose, composition, exposure and detail. Great PP work! Repost really helps. Just a bit of sharpening halo along the top of the bill. Really nice.
Nailed this one Jackie!!!!
Love the BG - Great fine feather detail - just all round super.
Somewhere between the OP and the repost for me.
BIG Congrats :)
Thanks Troy, it is not that hard really. Just spend as many hours PP as I do, and finally you absorb about on tenth of it. But must say you need a good base image, and PP might be the other 40 percent of it. Lance, I agree, somewhere between the two,
Hi Jackie,The repost is an improvement to an already well handled image. Complimentary backround along with good lighting. Interesting head angle and sharp. Nicely done!!
Really nice shot. I agree with comments above, but the contrast of the background and the black feathers of the bird
will make this a shot that even those people not interested in birds will find very pleasing to the eye.
Anhinga
