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Thread: October project: merlin

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    Default October project: merlin

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    Canon rebel xt + 300 2.8 + 2x
    1/200, f9.0, iso 200
    Flash. E-TTL -1 2/3

    Not sure if this is considered a true backlit image, but here it is.
    I somehow like the highlights/flares to go along with the backlit look although I have attempted to tone the brightest ones on the left down a bit.

    C & C appreciated.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    It certainly looks backlit to me. I love the bird; The eyes, especially the irises, could go a bit lighter. I am not a big fan of the large specular highlights or the branches in the lrc. All of them could go... That would leave you with a quite loverly image.
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    Thanks for the feedback, Artie. My limited PS skills notwithstanding, I will try your suggestions today and will repost.
    Best,
    Sidharth

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    Hey Artie, here's a repost with your suggested changes.
    This strectched my PS usage into uncharted waters :)
    I cloned the highlights and then to remove the blotchiness, used a brush with about 25% opacity to make it smooth. I then selected those areas an introduced about 0.7% uniform noise to match the noise in the original bg. Also quick masked the perch to clean the other unwanted stubs around it.
    Any good at all?
    Thanks again for you suggestions.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    The repost is a huge improvement and you did very, very well getting rid of the specular highlights without making it obvious. Another problem has arisen: the eyes in the repost look glassy, as if the bird had too many drinks :) You need to work on them a bit. The problem was there in the original post but not as bad.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Thank you, Artie! I'm encouraged by your feedback.
    There are some great gems in the educational resources forum that I've found very useful. Eye doctor work will be next. The original had a bit of a glass eye from the flash (or too many drinks which is entirely possible given that this image was made at South Padre, TX)

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    The bird must have been drinking tequila. And yes, there is tons of great stuff in the ER.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










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