Before and after: Mockingbird

[Hazel Grant]

I'm trying to concentrate on birds this summer. When I shot this mockingbird and woodpecker at our suet feeder, I thought, great! Two in one! Then I opened it and found the woodpecker blurry and the mockingbird dark with fringing and softness. Cropped, took out the fringing and with the suggestion of Dan Brown, used Capture Nx2 to work on the softness. Other minor adjustments with brightness, levels, etc. (After posted as reply)
shade of a tree on cloudy day, f5.6, iso800, 180mm, 1/200

[Hazel Grant]

This is the after, using the processes described.

[Dan Brown]

Good job, Hazel! The resolution is quite a bit better than your previous post! I think that NX2, being proprietary to nef, makes a difference and then reducing noise within the program is more accurate. Looks good!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Hazel. This is much better. If you feel really adventurous you could evict the branch for a different look. You might want to tone down the blue at the bottom - it's a gorgeous color but I think it detracts a little from the image.

[Hilary Hann]

Agree with Cheryl re some extra bits and pieces of work but I'm amazed at what you were able to get out of this image. Well done.

[Hazel Grant]

Guess I'm a bit obessed with this one. Keep trying. Took your advice and tried to remove the branch and blue border (water) Really have appreciated your input. I'm learning a lot.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hazel, fantastic repost! I think this is a much cleaner image and brings your focus to the mockingbird. Nicely done

[Jay Sheinfield]

Hazel..............super job on the repost. Yes, yes...........on Capture NX2 for .nef raw files. I use it 100% of the time for better noise reduction and max tonal range. I really like the leaning bird house and pose of the bird. Great background sets off the bird colors well.

[Anita Bower]

Excellent work on this image. It is amazing what you did to isolate the mockingbird and make it stand out. These before and after photos are a revelation!