Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: HUMINGBIRD CLOSEUP

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    106
    Threads
    16
    Thank You Posts

    Default HUMINGBIRD CLOSEUP

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Camera Model: Canon EOS 30D
    Date/Time: 2010:08:29 10:181
    Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
    Aperture: 18
    Exposure mode: Manual
    Metering mode: Spot
    ISO: 100
    Lens: EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
    Focal length: 180mm
    AF mode: Manual Focus

    3 VIVITAR 252 flash at full power, one flash dedicated to background

  2. #2
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Chris:

    Excellent timing, nice full up pose, colorful flower.

    I think it could stand a bit more sharpening on the eye/head.

    I always try to make my flash pictures as subtle as possible. I have toned down some of the highlights, darkened and reduced the reflection on the flower.

    You can do much better on the raw file.

    Cheers

    Randy

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    106
    Threads
    16
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Chris:

    Excellent timing, nice full up pose, colorful flower.

    I think it could stand a bit more sharpening on the eye/head.

    I always try to make my flash pictures as subtle as possible. I have toned down some of the highlights, darkened and reduced the reflection on the flower.

    You can do much better on the raw file.

    Cheers

    Randy
    Hey thanks Randy

    I always appreciate it when somebody takes the time to make their own improvements to my images. Also, amazed you decided it needed more sharppening! I actually did no sharpenning because I thought it was already sharp enough. Good catch that you noticed!.

    I do wonder how you were able to do such a nice edit to the flower without it affecting the rest of the image, or causing the flower to look manipulated. Care to share or is it too involved?

  4. #4
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Chris:

    I did a high light selection on the entire image 1st.

    To do this, I opened the image in CS5, opened the channels palette, clicked on the RGB option while holding down the option key. This gives you a selection of the highlights. I then went back to the layers palette, clicked on command + J, which gave me a layer with the highlights selected. I then changed the blend mode to multiply, and adjusted to taste. This isn't an original tech. by me. I know that Robert Amoruso has described this tech on BPN, and perhaps others too.

    The flower was given some additional treatment. I used the quick select tool from the tool palette, which works well when there is a distinct separation of an object from the surrounding area. I made a careful selection of only the red, and then added a layer mask to a separate layer, so that I had a mask which would only effect the red flower. I then played around with different blend modes, and actually did a second multiply blend on the flower. I also made another layer with the same mask and tweaked the saturation a bit lower.

    It takes longer to tell about it than to do it. Let me know if you need more detail.

    I use flash a fair amount, but hate the obvious flashed look, so am always tweaking my images to reduce that look. Keep the good, try to mitigate the bad.

    Cheers

    Randy

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand.
    Posts
    1,099
    Threads
    166
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Really like the wings up image.
    Randy's edit is first rate and really warms up the image.
    Editing details are way over my head but the point about reducing the "flash taken" look are well worth remembering.
    Cheers: Ian Mc

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics