playing with Lightroom & cropping

[nancy hazen]

Brown Pelican from La Jolla Cove, in San Diego. I downloaded a trial of Lightroom and like it very much. So, here is a try at a closer look at our Pelicans.
Thanks for looking and any CC is very welcome.
Nancy

[nancy hazen]

Oh, it looks a bit dark when I posted it.

[John Chardine]

Interesting image Nancy. It is a little dark but you could keep this tonality if you boosted the contrast a little (middle slider in Levels would work). I would like to see a bigger version of the image- you can post up to 1024 pixels wide on BPN. The image looks sharp and I like the dark BG. The main issue with the portrait is the head angle. Notice how the bird's head is turned away from you. The image would generate a lot more impact if the bird's head were turned CW by a few degrees so that the bird's head is turned towards you rather than away.

[BillTyler]

Hi Nancy,

I very much like the strong colors of the pelican against the black background. It looks almost as though the bird is posing in a studio.

Bill

[nancy hazen]

Interesting image Nancy. It is a little dark but you could keep this tonality if you boosted the contrast a little (middle slider in Levels would work). I would like to see a bigger version of the image- you can post up to 1024 pixels wide on BPN. The image looks sharp and I like the dark BG. The main issue with the portrait is the head angle. Notice how the bird's head is turned away from you. The image would generate a lot more impact if the bird's head were turned CW by a few degrees so that the bird's head is turned towards you rather than away.

Thanks John.
I lightened it a bit and posted a larger size. I agree, I wish I had caught the head tilted a bit. Thanks for the suggestions and looking.
Nancy
I tried posting a larger size, but the large size from Flickr is too large.

[nancy hazen]

Here is the lightened version.

[nancy hazen]

Hi Nancy,

I very much like the strong colors of the pelican against the black background. It looks almost as though the bird is posing in a studio.

Bill

Thank you Bill. These Pelicans do pose all day long - they love the sun and we love them.:)
Thanks for looking.
Nancy

[Richard Pittam]

Hi Nancy, that's a lovely image and great pose.
What specifically did you do in Lightroom? The reason I ask, is that I have just gottten it, after a trial also.

Cheers.
Richard

[Peter Farrell]

Definetly like your re-post best. Great colors and details.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Peter

[nancy hazen]

Hi Nancy, that's a lovely image and great pose.
What specifically did you do in Lightroom? The reason I ask, is that I have just gottten it, after a trial also.

Cheers.
Richard

Thanks Richard. I went back to the history and found I changed the WB and some of the tones to give more contrast. I also cropped it heavily as well. I'm not being very methodical with my methods trying LR.:o I need to document my changes better.
I love the pic on your Avatar. Where did you take the Puffin shot?
Nancy

[nancy hazen]

Definetly like your re-post best. Great colors and details.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Peter

Thank you Peter. I like it better too, but it may still be a bit too dark.
Nancy
Happy New Year to you as well.

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Nancy;

IMHO, your photo is gorgeous in every respect. Would love to hang it on my wall. Definitely not too dark as it conveys a sense of richness and lovely tonality.

Thank you very much for sharing it with us.

I love LR3, and you will find it is full of great surprises.

Gus

[John Chardine]

I like the lightened version a lot!

[nancy hazen]

Hi Nancy;

IMHO, your photo is gorgeous in every respect. Would love to hang it on my wall. Definitely not too dark as it conveys a sense of richness and lovely tonality.

Thank you very much for sharing it with us.

I love LR3, and you will find it is full of great surprises.

Gus

Thank you so much Gus. I'm sorry I missed your post earlier.
Nancy

[nancy hazen]

I like the lightened version a lot!

Thank you so much John. I am sorry I missed your post earlier.
Nancy