photo editing background

[Ronald Zigler]

I was hesitant to post this since this is such a common bird; however while easy to photograph at a feeder, it is less so on trees. I was just looking for some feedback about overall image quality. This was not a terribly severe crop. I am also trying to learn how to edit out branches for a better background. I could use some suggestions on evening out the background (although I suspect I should just re-read the Photoshop Elements Manual. but it appears more complicated than it should be).
Canon 60D, 300mm f4 + 1.4x, @ 1/800. f5.6, ISO 1000.

[Dan Brown]

Hi Ronald. Is this the original capture or have you done a bunch of work on it already? It looks like you have done some cloning but I can't figure out your background. Cloned?

[jack williamson]

Hello Ronald. I like the pose and comp but the image quality has suffered. It does look like a large crop and there is a lot of chroma noise in the image. The background looks very strange.

I can't comment much on elements, I use cs3. I use the clone tool mostly to remove distracting elements and I rarely smooth the background except with noise reduction.

Jack

[Ronald Zigler]

I used the "healing brush" option (I believe that it what it is called) and spread the sample of part of the background. I know it appears uneven. The left side of the image had another tree and some out-of-focus branches. While not the most severe crop, I think the crop and 1000 ISO may have both contributed to the degraded image quality. I want to get a better sense of what I am doing just in case I get a really great photo someday which simply needs some cleaning of distracting background clutter. I see so many beautiful images on this web site with exquisitely uniform background.

[Dan Brown]

Hi Ronald. Could you post an unedited version? I don't know what Elements is capable of but I'm sure someone can chime in on what tools to use with that program to help you. Most of the nice, smooth BG's you see here were done in-camera for the most part and then maybe some nr in post processing.

[Ronald Zigler]

Here is the original file. I am going to have to apologize for underestimating the extent to which my original image was cropped. Clearly, between the crop and the ISO, I did not give myself enough to work with for overall image quality. However, this does illustrate the kind of editing challenge I would like to master, albeit, with a less drastic crop.

[Kerry Perkins]

Ronald, I understand your frustration, but heroic efforts at creating pleasing backgrounds are not the way to go. As Dan says, getting the bg in the camera is what makes for a lovely image. Sometimes we can make soup from a stone, but sometimes we just have to admit that we didn't get the shot we wanted. Here is an example of using the background right out of the camera, and it was no accident. No processing on this shot other than a crop for composition and some sharpening. http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...light=nuthatch Thinking about the bg and foreground elements in advance of the shot is a big part of taking your bird photography to the next level.

[Dan Brown]

Yes, you really are trying to stretch things here, Ronald! If you had to, with CS5 at least, you could crop down and do some things to extend the bg that exists between the trees. But, I would recommend not wasting your time on this file doing that. Instead, I recommend trying to capture the bird in a better situation regarding the bg. You could move the bird feeder maybe? Select a nice lonely tree with a nice, distant bg and place the feeder near it. Then in Elements, you wouldn't have much work to do. Good luck!

[Ronald Zigler]

Ouch. Kerry, your image is beautiful. After seeing that, it may be a while before I post another. It's almost embarrassing. I feel lucky to find a bird stationary long enough to get off a shot at the right exposure. Having a clean background? The natural world is simply not that tidy. I don't see how its done during the original capture, unless one is creating a set or stage with nearby food, limited perches and consequently a high probability the bird will land where you want it. Is that the trick?

[Dan Brown]

Ouch. Kerry, your image is beautiful. After seeing that, it may be a while before I post another. It's almost embarrassing. I feel lucky to find a bird stationary long enough to get off a shot at the right exposure. Having a clean background? The natural world is simply not that tidy. I don't see how its done during the original capture, unless one is creating a set or stage with nearby food, limited perches and consequently a high probability the bird will land where you want it. Is that the trick?

Yes, that is a technique, Ronald. But you also need to develop an eye for this type of situation and anticipate a little. When I am out birding/photographing, I am always assessing my surroundings for opportunities that will yield a nice clean capture. Be aware of the birds and their behaviors. Always be aware of the bg and move your position if you can to improve it. It can be done, with some luck and skills!

[Kerry Perkins]

Ronald, there aren't really any tricks, just hard work and anticipation as Dan says. It also means being selective about what you shoot, working the birds and knowing where they will be, and above all being patient and practicing the art of "seeing", which is not the same as "looking". You just have to keep working at it and looking for better visual environments to shoot in.

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi;

First of all - Way too big a crop. Here'a very fast Quick Mask, replace BB and fast cleanup.

If you look below the beak you can see what I missed with cutting him out of the new BG, about 1/8th x approx 1/2 inch long.

Not something I would keep

Keep smiling

Gus

BTW: Those birds are so fast and skittish you did well to capture that pose. I went weeks to get one in such a nice pose

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Ronald;

Pay no attention to my repost, no better than your OP.

You have a lot of very good advice from the posters.

It all boils down to get closer and crop bigger.

My apologies for joomping before I had a place to stood!

Regards

Gus

[Ronald Zigler]

Gus, I have taken quite a few pictures of nuthatches in the past and recently. The problem, is that may older pictures are taken at feeders. Nuthatches love peanuts and are regular vistors to our sunflower seed feeders as well. The challenge, is creating a better scene in a naturalistic setting. Not easy, but I will try to apply the suggestions posted above when possible.