Another Tree Swallow I shot at John Heinz NWR two weeks ago. I used a contrast curve in Adobe ARC – Levels and Curves in PS and removed some of the blue cast to try and warm things up a bit.
Camera Nikon D200 Nikon AF-s 300mm 2.8 lens + 2X TC Exposure Mode Manual at 1/400s at f5.6 ISO 200 Thanks for you comments – is it to bright or did I warm it up to much?
Hi David, With part of the bird in sun and part in the shadow of its own body, you have done a fairly good job of controlling the EXP. I prefer to avoid these sidelit situations... The blues look natural from here.
later and love, artie
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You depict a nice endearing pose here with the little cock of the head.
The image has a "hazy" look to my eyes as if maybe it needs a bit of contrast boost, lift in the blacks or mid-tones.
When I can't figure out how to say what I mean, I go for a visual.
What was done:
Image > Adjust > Selective Color
Raised the blacks in the blacks
Raised the blacks in the whites
Image > Adjust > Hue and Saturation (CMD U)
Selected the blue channel and darkened just a hair as well as desaturate -4
Image > Mode > LAB Color
Made a curves adjustment layer and moved the both ends of each of the A & B channels in to the 100 and -100 (first grid line)
Image > Mode RGB
Convert to sRGB and save.
EDIT: The image may be a little warmer (redder) then intended, but that comes from the fact that I didn't selectively reduce the blue from just the blue feathers. Masking out the rest of the image would keep it cooler, though I kinda like it warm.
Cool tree swallow image - almost like Batman... Colors look okay to me. I'd have liked to see more of the branch in focus, but that is being picky. I like it as is.