Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Secretary bird on Acacia sunset.

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default Secretary bird on Acacia sunset.

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    The sunset was even more spectacular than normal this particular evening, topped off by sweeping rain showers and a Secretary bird roosting on this Acacia.

    D3s 500VRII 1/400s ISO500@f/4 Masai Mara, Oct 2010. F/F.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc


  2. #2
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Dallas, Texas.
    Posts
    6,260
    Threads
    426
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very nice comp. and good job positioning yourself to get the clean profile. Loved this shot. Wishing the sky behind the bird was a bit brighter...you can try doing that via curves.

  3. #3
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marc:

    A very well crafted image, like the feeling of this one a lot.

    Do agree with Kaustubh about wishing for a little more light behind the bird, but I understand if that is not your style to change such things.

    Works well as is.

    Cheers

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Kaustubh & Randy,
    the light here is fairly accurate and exhibited what I saw that evening, I did attempt some lightening (via curves of course) but looked unnatural and tended to wash out the rain showers in the BG sky.


  5. #5
    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
     
    Marc:

    I really like the original, but did want to try my hand at tweaking it.

    I used the dodge tool at 15% opacity and lightly painted in a little bit lighter background behind the bird. I tried to leave the same slightly irregular edges and boundaries of the original sky.

    I thought about doing a more complex gradient layer etc., but this seemed to get me the effect I was after. It didn't change the delicate balance in the lower half so that the showers still show nicely.

    I purposefully kept the change subtle to honor the feel of the original. It could easily be adjusted brighter to taste.

    Cheers

    Randy
    Last edited by Randy Stout; 09-19-2011 at 06:29 PM.
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Somewhere in Africa
    Posts
    3,723
    Threads
    251
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nicely done...I like the effect!

  7. #7
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Marc, I like the setting and overall comp. Colours look good, and I can see this in a very large print hanging on a company wall. Well spotted. I also like Randy's subtle repost.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA
    Posts
    2,059
    Threads
    319
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    MARC
    loved the sillhouette.. superb execution

  9. #9
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Elegant. I prefer the repost. Thanks Randy!
    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.










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