Smooth Sailing

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Some color play with a backlit underexposed subject (Common Merganser?) on Yellowstone Lake.
Lifting custom picture control in NX2 (raw conversion curve), LAB curves, Topaz Simplify, Topaz Detail, more LAB curves, blending tricks (selective screen & multiply).

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Cheryl Slechta]

Michael, an interesting image - the water almost looks like floating ice. I'd like to see the eye a little better. Nice work

[Indranil Sircar]

Michael, I like the use of wide canvas with the loan Merganser. The blue and white streaks creates an interesting composition and certainly OOTB! Just two minor observation - the image needs a small ccw rotation (around .36) and also adding a slight contrast to the Merganser may make it even stronger. Excellent work and TFS!

[denise ippolito]

Michael, I like the soft pleasing water and the merganser has nice detail. My preference would be that the duck would be a little lower in the frame, but that is personal taste. A nice subtle amount of Simplify.

[Arthur Morris]

I love the merg, the colors, and the effect. I agree with Lady D that a nice crop from the bottom would improve it. I wish only for a better head angle (as the bird's head is turned away from the imaging sensor.).

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Cheryl, Indranil, Denise, Artie,

Thanks much for your comments... they're much appreciated.

So, Indranil, the ccw rotation works but how did you see it?

The crop from the bottom works for me, too. Alas, I couldn't outrace him for a better HA ...

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Indranil Sircar]

So, Indranil, the ccw rotation works but how did you see it?

First using the ruler tool and then using Image Rotation -> Arbitrary.