RED WINGED BLACKBIRD

[gary ellwein]

Early AM, clear, frontal light. Nikon D200, Nikkor 200-400mm 1.4TC, f5.6, 1/350, ISO 200, Using, PSCS3, seperated bird from BG using color range. Applied levels and USM. Background used curves, Br/Co and Color bal. PS neophyte. Post appears a bit washed out when compared to the original on my computer.

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Love the pose, the perch, the details in the black, and the catch light in the eye. Black birds are not easy and you did well here. What's the white dot behind the neck, maybe an insect? If your ethic allow it might consider cloning out the grass behind the tail.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Gary,

Greetings. Agree with Thanaboon on pose, details & catch light (& white dot). Could use some more contrast in the blacks & perhaps, a faster ss would have added some benefit. Good advice from Thanaboon.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[John Chardine]

Hi Gary- Nice portrait and reminds me of spring here in the Maritimes! I like the composition with the inclusion of the whole cattail flower. As mentioned black birds are tough and you did well here. Soft light is the answer!

I photograph this species in very similar settings and it's so easy to overexpose the cattails- I think the top where the feet are could be toned down a bit.

[gary ellwein]

Love the pose, the perch, the details in the black, and the catch light in the eye. Black birds are not easy and you did well here. What's the white dot behind the neck, maybe an insect? If your ethic allow it might consider cloning out the grass behind the tail.

Thanaboon, thank you for the critique. Will eliminate the bg grass. The dot represents less than stellar PS skills. Addressed above issues in a new post.

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Nicely done with the cloning, I like it. I don't remember seeing a real cattails before, so not sure if the top of the perch comes out too pinkish or not.

[John Chardine]

Well done on the Ps work.

[Blake Shadle]

Nice job getting feather detail out of this RWBB. Very nice work removing the grass. The only things that I've noticed that I might change if this were mine. There seems to be a glow around the head and back of your subject (I'm almost certain it's Photoshop related, so that can always be changed). I like the composition, but I think I would change one thing; cropping out the bottom of the cat tail. I also might tone down the cat tail itself (entirely preferential). I've attached a repost. Thanks for sharing.

[gary ellwein]

Nice job getting feather detail out of this RWBB. Very nice work removing the grass. The only things that I've noticed that I might change if this were mine. There seems to be a glow around the head and back of your subject (I'm almost certain it's Photoshop related, so that can always be changed). I like the composition, but I think I would change one thing; cropping out the bottom of the cat tail. I also might tone down the cat tail itself (entirely preferential). I've attached a repost. Thanks for sharing.

Blake thank you for the C & C and repost. I struggled with the cat tail crop. The balance is better with it cropped.