No Pond Scum Here!

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
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Gyellowlegs-copyNPN
Gyellowlegs-copyNPN1500×1068 663 KB

What technical feedback would you like if any? Usually, I don’t like to manipulate an image extensively as this one. If it takes a lot of work to make a photo work, than take a different shot. This was different and I was compelled ny Dennis’ comment about pond scum. So I removed all signs of pond scum, and most of the dark OOF spots in the BG. So this is an extensively altered image. Was this worth the effort?

What artistic feedback would you like if any? How’s the comp? Would you remove the dark piece of vegetation above the ripple?

Any pertinent technical details: I used Phil’s method for removing distracting BG elements with a variable BG (Refer to my Bittersweet image in the Old NPN Flora Gallery). Lots of rubber stamping and I may need to clean up areas above the back of the bird. I also reduced the cyan saturation of the water slightly. Thank you for checking this one out…Jim

You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques.
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I’m beginning to regret that comment, Jim. I prefer the head turn here to the original post as it has a better look at the eye. However, the background is starting to have an artificial look and the Yellowlegs is starting to look almost pasted into the image. That’s probably due to contrast and possibly saturation increases in the bird and the dropping of the cyan in the background. The background looks a bit odd because of the band of white across the middle with pure blue above and below. If you don’t mind, I’d be interested in seeing where you started from on this one.

I wouldn’t remove any of the remaining pieces of vegetation.

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Thank you Dennis. I may just go BW with this one just for artistic purposes…Jim