Yikes!

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
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YIKES!!
YIKES!!2500×1844 1.17 MB

This is from several years ago. I have no idea what made me do it but I’m pretty sure no drugs were involved. Even I have trouble believing the starting image.

Specific Feedback Requested

All comments welcome, including on my sanity.

Technical Details

Symmetry from a normal shot of the crane in flight. BG shot to fit after it was finished. I tilted the head just a little to add a tiny bit of something to make the viewer look twice, but wish I had done more. I could go back and do a “State II” but I’ll leave it for now.

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This is hysterical, Diane! Not sure what you mean by the “BG shot to fit after?” But it works for me. Great shot!

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Thanks, @linda_mellor. The blank sky needed something so I went down to the creek looking for some tree detail, and the season was right for a color match. (Luck is one of my best strategies.)

1 Like
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You did a fantastic job of replacing the sky, Diane.

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Diane, I love face on birds, and this one is no exception. He does look startled at you. Reminds me of Candid Camera. Dating myself. :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

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:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
This is great!!

I love the mustache!!

I can see the base image was of a crane in flight but what species of bird is the head from? I assume an owl of one sort or another? Or…just hand painted to suit your taste?

I’m curious about the “Underwings”?, is underwings a good word for them? Either way, they make the bird? look more aerodynamic. :smiley:

The head tilt and offset was very well done, as was the smooth stitching of the two mirrored halves.

Nope, I can’t make a comment on your sanity! If I did, then my sanity would be in question because of how much I like this. :slight_smile:

Hmmmm…I might have to question that one…:open_mouth:

I can see where finding a suitable BG image would be tough, but you did good IMHO!

It looks like you had great fun with it and that’s the stuff that matters!

Thanks for sharing it! :laughing:

Again, well done!

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Thanks, @linda_mellor, @Shirley_Freeman and @Merv! Merv, the head is from the same bird (Sandhill Crane) – I just selected it and tilted it a bit. Here’s the original raw file with the LR adjustments it had at the time – 2010. I could do a little more with it today. I didn’t preserve all the intermediate steps so it’s a bit of a mystery to me how I got from here to there.

_MG_5747
_MG_57472500×1697 770 KB

And with today’s Version 5 adjustments in LR, just very basic slider changes:

_MG_5747-v2
_MG_5747-v22500×1697 671 KB

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Ah, I can see it now. That also explains the mustache.
It did make it look like an owl head of sorts though.

I would have never guessed it was from a crane so thanks a bunch for posting the original base image.

Lots of steps to create an image like that!
I can understand not knowing how you got here from there.

It turned into a fun image for you and obviously others as well :slight_smile:

Thanks again :slight_smile:

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BTW, really cool how you blended the beak into the leading edge of the wing!!

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Oh my gosh, Diane. This made me laugh out loud. You must have had a fun time dreaming this one up. Your insanity is our gain. Thanks for the post and brightening my day.

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That was pretty good shot, Diane. Very unique. I love the post. Also, thanks got posting the Sand Crane. I am going out to a place south of Wilcox AZ this weekend to see the thousands of sand cranes that fly in this time of year.

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I think you may have started a new category, Diane: “Imaginary Beasts”. We could all have great fun with it. The crane is definitely high as a kite - but you did a great job stitching it together. And thanks for the low-down on how you did it.