Wild Turkey

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I thought this was a nice autumnal image. I usually see at least one flock of wild turkeys on my daily walk.

Specific Feedback

Any thoughts appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon R5; 100-500 with 1.4TC at 700 mm; 1/200 at f10, -2/3EV; ISO 640

Have any of you use the LAB color space? I rarely think of trying it, but did on this image and using LAB with a curves layer really makes the colors pop. I did decrease the opacity to 50%


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1 Like

Allen - Very appealing image here. The colour and detail in the bird is nice, and the BG fall colours really make the bird pop.
More room on the bottom, if you have it, would leave room for the virtual legs, and then adding a bit of saturation to the leg(s) to make them stand out more would be good.
A fine image!

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I’ve never tried the LAB color space, Allen, but it sure made this turkey look good. I really like the color and light in this image. I agree with @SandyR-B that more room on the bottom would be nice.

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Thanks, @SandyR-B and @Dennis_Plank for you kind comments. The turkey’s were on an upslope and there was a turkey in front of the legs, so I would have had to remove the turkey and add some more grass to show the virtual legs.

A nice capture of this thing – they are so difficult to isolate and get in a decent pose. With today’s magic, one thing that usually does work remarkably well (unlike masking) is to add canvas with content-aware fill or the newer Generative Expand. Just a bit more canvas on the bottom could work well here.

I haven’t thought about LAB color space in years. It had a role back around the turn of the century, but is hardly used these days with the “newer” sensors and raw converters. I’m curious what it did for you here that LR’s Develop module didn’t – and I think I remember you use LR, but correct me if I’m wrong.

The Temp and Tint sliders are the B and A channels in LAB, which LR is using behind the scenes.

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A lovely and natural portrait. Great light and I like the slight head cock as it brings out their usual vivacity and liveliness. The colors look really harmonious. I wouldn’t change much except the dar leaf at the top of the frame near the center. A terrific seasonal image.

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Hi Diane. My workflow is DxO if needed, then LR, then PS. I rarely use LAB, but if I do, I only use it after saving the TIF file. In this case the saved file looks a bit drab compared to the LAB result. I went back to the saved file in LR and played around with the temp an tint sliders, but couldn’t come up with a similar result, though I must admit, I almost never use the tint slider.

A “normal” S-curve on the composite channel (the default) of an RGB file will make colors stronger because it is increasing contrast. But in LAB mode a Curves adjustment doesn’t have a composite channel. It opens on the L channel, and an S-curve there (or pulling in both ends) increases contrast without changing colors. (That’s what it would be used for.) But you say you got colors popping and had to dial back the opacity – something’s not right there…

The Tint slider in a raw converter is really sensitive – it needs a vernier scale.

Hi Allen, very nice seasonal image - love the colors and pose. When viewing the larger size, I’m wondering if I am seeing a bit of motion blur on the bird or front focusing in the image. Still, a very pleasing image. I could also see adding room on the bottom. Nice catch.

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Hi Allen
I like it as is. The grass curves up to reinforce the viewer focus on the Turkey’s head.
Very nice
Peter

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