This Cormorant allowed me to get pretty close so this is almost full frame. I then started playing around with it during processing. I first added a flypaper texture and painted the details back in the cormorant by masking . I then used Color efex pro - the reflector filter to bring light into the shadows and add some directionality to the light. I then tried my best to select a moon shot but found it to be very hard because the shadowed part of the moon blended too much with the black of the night sky. I then brought the moon into the cormorant shot and proceeded to size and position it to match the light. I kind of like the otherwordly look. I would like to remove the band on the cormorant but so far have not been happy with any of my cloning attempts. Suggestions?
All comments welcome!
Nikon D3s
500 mm with 1.4 Tc
1/3200 sec at f5.6
ISO 1600







Denise did a great job cloning. Sometimes you can just clone at the edges and use the paint brush on thin areas like legs and if necessary, add noise back if it is too flat, when cloning is not possible. I have painted the background over lotus pads and then selected the whole area and added noise. I will post one of those next.
Honestly, I would prefer the image without the moon. It's a good idea but I think the wrong image for it. I would also crop a bit from the left after the moon goes down.

The sky is beautiful and just right for the bird.

