Banking Skimmer

[Herb Houghton]

Here's a banking black skimmer from the Jersey shore, shot around 4 p.m. This is almost full frame, I cropped out bottom and left, added canvas top and right sides, about equal to standard full frame size. Original BGD was oof outriggers and sportfisherman boats at a marina. The blue sky BGD was added with paint bucket tool. mk IV, 500 f4 plus 1.4xIII, iso 640, f8, 1/2000 from gitzo/ wimberley shot in manual mode.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Great look at those wings and a cool calling pose. I really like the placement of the skimmer as well.

[stuart wanuck]

Nice apture good action and great exposure

[Stu Bowie]

Great banking angle Herb, and I like how the bill follows the line of the wing. Well exposed, and good job on the sky, although a slightly 'bluer' sky may work better.

[gail bisson]

One of your best shots Herb! I really like it. Excellent sharpness and the open beak is awesome,
Gail

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely capture, Herb. I love the way the bird turned to look and you and squawk! I think I would give it a bit more room on top. The upper wing is already scrunched, and the tigher crop on top accentuates that fact.

[Mital Patel]

herb you nailed it man. apart from what expert said already i might just sit down and enjoy watching this marvelous image.

[Pieter de Waal]

Excellent flight image, like the full wing spread with good detail, banking pose and head turn. Calling pose adds to the image - well captured.

[Arthur Morris]

Cool dorsal view with a great look-back pose and a perfect EXP. How did you make your selection? I did not read the comments above yet but it looks like a great job to me.

[James Salywoda]

Awesome I really like the open beak and pose very well done capturing this.

[Herb Houghton]

Thanks for all of the comments everyone. The selection was made with magnetic lasso.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for all of the comments everyone. The selection was made with magnetic lasso.

Thanks Herb, Did you do anything with the selection? Expand, contract, feather, Refine Edge, or Refine Mask?

[Herb Houghton]

Thanks Herb, Did you do anything with the selection? Expand, contract, feather, Refine Edge, or Refine Mask?

No Artie, I'm not that adept at CS4. I don't know how to use any of those features mentioned. I'm guessing Refine Edge would be best for defining on the bird's outline ?

[Arthur Morris]

No Artie, I'm not that adept at CS4. I don't know how to use any of those features mentioned. I'm guessing Refine Edge would be best for defining on the bird's outline ?

Wow. Your selection worked very well. Oftentimes you will get light or dark halos when filling in a sky. Every thing that I mentioned is designed to prevent that and other problems. It seems here that ignorance was bliss. Well done! BTW, the very best would be Refine Mask but I have not figured that one out yet....