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03/22/2017 12:41:37 AM · #1
This one did fine. But two people were bothered by how dark the head was in comparison to the brightness of the feathers. As you can see from the original (now included in the description), I lightened the head and breast quite a bit - I actually had lightened it more but backed off because I felt the lighting was obviously coming from the left and I didn't want it to look "fakey". I quite like this image and would like to use it elsewhere, but want it to be the best it can be. So I am really looking for any constructive suggestions and criticism you may have.

. . . and trust me, this is not about the score. Anytime I get over six, I am super happy (as my five year old granddaughter would say).

03/22/2017 01:54:23 AM · #2
It's really a great capture and a top ten ain't shabby. I get what you are saying about the lighting. This one would take some careful work to get it to look the way you want. Can't really say how I would do it unless I went ahead and took a shot at it. If you don't mind, I'll see if I can come up with anything and include the steps.
03/22/2017 06:15:19 AM · #3
Ok, I spent a bit of time on it. As far as the lighting, what I do is adjust the brightness or levels up on the whole image while looking at the area I want to focus on. Get everything that is dark up to an acceptable level even if parts are getting blown out. Then undo. Then set your history brush to the brightness adjustment step and mask off the surrounding sky and use the history brush with max feathering and about 25% opacity and start brushing the brightness back into the specific areas. In this image, you want to make it brighter on the top areas where the sun is coming from and maintain or even enhance the shadows underneath.

You could/should use adjustment layers and paint in the masking for it. I'm just used to doing it the way I described.

I don't know if that's helpful or not, but take it for what it's worth.



*I ended up messing up the sky and replacing it. My edits may not pass the Standard Editing rules check.
03/22/2017 06:30:41 AM · #4
Maybe you could try this technique by idnic early in your processing to even the light on the whole bird. Then you can process the whole image to your liking.

Move The Light Tutorial by idnic

Tim

Message edited by author 2017-03-22 06:31:10.
03/22/2017 09:49:29 AM · #5
Since I was one of the two comments, I figured I should chime in :)

I only have lightroom mobile at work. No photoshop. No plugins. Just that. So the image I have is not the best quality (actually, I think it has more to do with the heavy crop), but I think it gets the point across.



How I did this:
* I pretty much just focused on the bird with a variety of radial filters (if I had a brush tool, I would have used that).
* In the body, I made everything a bit darker
* In the head, I not only brought up brightness, but also shadows. And I also brought up the warmth. Being in the shadows from the wing, if you don't bring up the warmth, it looks fakey. So that is important tip #1.
* The other thing I had to do to make it look right was a heavily brightened radial filter on the eye. Light will reflect off the shiny eyeball making it apear brighter. So by giving it extra brightness, it looks more like it is hit by the sun. Important tip #2

Hope this helps!
03/22/2017 10:04:48 AM · #6
Thank you all for the time you took. I'm not sure how many layers I saved - for sure not enough to go way back and I'm not sure I'm up to the time starting over would take, but I will for sure take a stab at it. The steps and work on screen shots help a lot, so thanks Art and Mike. I've used the "move the light" tutorial before but appreciate the link and will re-read and try that, too.
03/22/2017 02:34:54 PM · #7
You can try this

In Photoshop choose the turned down corner icon (lower right) + Alt key. A dialogue box will pop up...choose blending modes - loverlay. Now choose Cont + B (brush) reduce Opacity to 10-12%...make sure the white box is on top (lower left side) if not Control + X (switches black to white or vise versa). Now enlarge your work area to be the head only. Start brushing with a white brush (turn you eye on n off to see your results) add any dark by switching Black n White boxes. When your finished with your controlled D & B...add a Gaussian Blur - around 40-60% (see where you need to go by checking the eye again - your looking for a "slight change")". What this does is blur the D & B action (softens the edges). Sometimes I do this multiple times, according to the need.
03/22/2017 03:05:37 PM · #8
Originally posted by Ja-9:

. . . add a Gaussian Blur - around 40-60% (see where you need to go by checking the eye again - your looking for a "slight change")". . . .


Gaussian at what level? 2, 3, 5, 10?? I think you have me doing this on a layer and then reducing the opacity of the layer? Maybe?
03/22/2017 03:43:50 PM · #9
Originally posted by nam:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

. . . add a Gaussian Blur - around 40-60% (see where you need to go by checking the eye again - your looking for a "slight change")". . . .


Gaussian at what level? 2, 3, 5, 10?? I think you have me doing this on a layer and then reducing the opacity of the layer? Maybe?


Start at 35 with the Gaussian Blur...you'll have to play with it I go as high as 60's. And yes, your working a layer....reduce opacity if you need to I usually don't.
03/22/2017 09:24:58 PM · #10
Curiously, I don't see anything *wrong* with the original edit on the head/body. I think nam's right in wanting to keep the head a little darker because of how the light is pointing in this shot. MY concern, to the extent that I have one, is that the sky looks quite unnaturally blue/violet to me. The clouds are skillfully done, but for me the sky itself should look more like the original.
03/22/2017 11:38:44 PM · #11
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Curiously, I don't see anything *wrong* with the original edit on the head/body. I think nam's right in wanting to keep the head a little darker because of how the light is pointing in this shot. MY concern, to the extent that I have one, is that the sky looks quite unnaturally blue/violet to me. The clouds are skillfully done, but for me the sky itself should look more like the original.


I replaced the sky, Bear. But I can bring the blue and/or cyan saturation down and I think you're right to suggest I use the tones of the original for guidance. The clouds are not "skillfully done" - they are what they were in the replacement I used LOL

03/22/2017 11:40:22 PM · #12
I've gotten a request for some of my photos that will require quite a bit of editing time over the next few days and then family calls over the weekend. This is by way of explanation - I won't be getting to play with this until next week, I fear, but I do appreciate the comments so far and will appreciate any more I may get.
03/31/2017 07:51:04 PM · #13
I finally got around to a revision - put in in the description of the original(linked here). Thanks for the thoughts, everyone.


Message edited by author 2017-03-31 19:53:38.
03/31/2017 09:01:05 PM · #14
I am enjoying learning here. Thanks, Nam! :D
03/31/2017 09:33:19 PM · #15
Thanks, Lydia. I tried toning down the feet and also brightening the beak. It did help. I won't post it - or at least not just yet - but I do appreciate the suggestion.
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