|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Ray, it is a remarkable site! I've been here 7 years full time not going back north in spring. One would miss half of this remarkable story unfolding. There are crazy moments when you wonder how you'll ever take it all in. |
Feb 16th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Ray, it is a remarkable site! I've been here 7 years full time not going back north in spring. One would miss half of this remarkable story unfolding. There are crazy moments when you wonder how you'll ever take it all in. |
Feb 16th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Gary, This surely must be the month of black and white! Interestingly, I have only once intentionally made an image black and white from Iceland where it just seemed like the whole area was really blacks,whites and greys which convinced me to go for it! It was an iceberg "calf"on the black sand beach! This image stands on its texture from my view which is also why I think it calls for the B&W. I really like the focus on the tree roots and the water since they depend on each other for survival. Very nice image Gary, while no expert, it speaks to me without the color variations! |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Beautiful image Larry...the Tetons are magnificent and when I think about how far away you are from the mountains I'm somewhat awestruck at the immensity and your image has highlighted how immense the area before you reach the mountains.
I do agree with Gary, I would crop a bit while still maintaining several layers and allow the mountains to retain the spotlight. |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
As you know Ian, I've never tried infrared...but that does not mean I can't appreciate the end result. When I consider Infrared image the first thing I look for is frame and drama! In my eyes you have achieved a beautiful powerful image! Beyond my reaction I just don't have the skill to elaborate on anything but that reaction. I do like the image a great deal...and maybe one day you'll convince me to try it! |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
I love your narrative and your composition is really quite masterful. Isn't it great when traveling and you get small pieces of information that make you want to use it in an image to cement the eclectic information you garner. Not to mention new techniques you learn to achieve your image. And I'm with you on the revisiting images...my problem is we are in Nesting Season which is prime time for getting beautiful wildlife images...BUT then you have to leave the past and focus on your current images. Though they are not particularly suited to this group, but they do fit well with my nature group. |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Agree the front is too dark, but the mystery of the city lights and sky are stunning and well done! Hope your wife is well on her way to recovery and learning the new skills required to deal with her reality. Events like this make us realize how fragile these human bodies can be! You are both in my prayers.
|
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Well done...I too love the way you used the Mesa Arch as your frame...and apparently it is a favorite spot for photographers if there was a line waiting. When I think of Landscapes in USA, I think of the gorgeous spots out west like Sedona, Canyonlands, Arches, and many others. This image is unique and well thought out in the initial stages which makes for stunning images such as this! . |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Thanks Gary! |
Feb 11th |
| 73 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Thank you Butch! We went to Monument Valley and then on to Arches on the trip...sounds familiar to your trip, only we actually did both. When we went I thought I would love Arches and was only moderately thrilled with Monument Valley (mainly because one of our favorite places is Sedona - so I didn't think I would seem much more there). Was I wrong! It was just the opposite, I loved Monument Valley and all the history and Navaho folklore! While Arches was stunning, it did not impact me the same way! |
Feb 11th |
6 comments - 4 replies for Group 73
|
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Thanks Gwen...you are right I do think he was bathing in the rain drops . |
Feb 12th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
I think they were just pixels...but today's PS is very different than the old Photoshop! What I did was increase pixel content when exporting. I'll have to check that out....but it really did a wonderful job!
I'm attaching the original (converted to jpeg with my edits but changed to original raw size) since I exaggerated on size overall of the bird...my mind was back on trying to nail a focus on a small bird a along way away! |
Feb 12th |
 |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Thanks Peter that is a really good idea. Ill give it a whirl! |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Leslie...I do not think there is anything cuter than a fawn! The reflection adds a nice touch! The fawn is clear and I'm surprised that the reflection came out so nice. The drought is severe in some western areas...and I feel for all those wild animals that are most likely struggling to survive. I would guess those that could have moved on! Really sad....clinmate change is real and this winter has been brutal! You'll forgive me but I worry that this earth will not be habitable for my Great grandchildren ! |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
John nice one!!! Sand Hill Cranes are one of my go to when I go to our NWR. Right now they are nesting so I can't wait for the chicks. They are beautiful birds and I'm so glad you gave it a try. Agree that I would cut down on the light which you can do in processing unless you have blown out the highlights, which I don't believe you did. And giving more room on the right by using PS and expanding with Ai which will give you consistent grass on the right. I'm not concerned about the far left bird....that is what they do, stop to nibble along the way, but some might feel they are better cropped out. To me it is showing behavior which is instructive for the viewer. |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Judy, They are certainly unique birds. I think I've seen at one every time I've visited in Africa ( all of 2 times :-) ) They are most definitely the weirdest bird Ive ever seen anywhere! You've managed to capture a fabulous shot of them and with food!!! Way to go! Seems like every time I saw one they were running or flying away ....literally. I suspect they do not like humans around.
You were very fortunate and took fantastic advantage of the moment! Congrats |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
I keep hoping you might have gotten a penguin or seal in the areas you've traveled! This is detailed , sharp, and clear. And makes me shiver! Which I suspect is a good thing considering the topic! |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Beautiful little bird. Love its coloring, it is sharp and eye show nicely despite it being such a dark bird and black eyes. And you've coaught it singing! don't get much better than that. I might remove the green on the corner, not a big deal but it draws my eye away from that cutie! |
Feb 11th |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Comment |
Let me start with this is an absolutely great image of these cranes. There is nothing cuter than the chicks and their antics. The shot is clear and in great focus and I like your crop. And best of all I like the title....I can't tell you how many times I heard those words repeated by my girls as they were growing up....:-).
I shoot images on a daily basis with these type of distractions...some you can improve and some I just give up on. I wish that the birds would choose a cleaner background/foreground, but that is not going to happen in my lifetime or any other.
So here is what I did to achieve the cleanest I could get it. I removed the smaller black spots with LR (anything large I left for PS). I then exported to Photoshop and used the Remove with AI (see below for what it looks like) tool to remove all the larger dark spots except the shadows to make sure it was picking up the background that existed around the the birds and took them piece by piece, using the AI option remove (it is a band aid with "stars" next to it) and make sure you have AI turned on, there are options at the top with a drop down box. I did each little piece that I could separately and got it pretty clean. Then I took it back into LR and used the clone tool to replace the ripples in the space I cleaned up. I picked my source and then tried to get them consistent with what existed above. My least steps were all about the lighting at the bottom, and I played with both the blacks shadows and under lighting to make it obvious that they were the birds shadows. I'm not sure I got the color quite right I think it may be a tad too blue (mainly because of the fussing I did with the shadow and lighting. But that can be set to your preference easily in LR.
It is a lot of fussing and very personal. Do I consider that significant AI...I don't decause I have not invented items that don't exist, just removing things that distract from your main image ... the cranes. Some may not agree...and that is OK....but I do find the PS removal much better. And I ONLY do it when I have an image that is difficult to get, or special circumstances like this where your chances of ever seeing this again are slim, and most importantly sharp and clear of the subject matter. Those don't even make it to processing! |
Feb 10th |
 |
| 94 |
Feb 26 |
Reply |
Thanks so much for your comments...once I processed it I was stunned that I had not deleted it initially.....but I quickly realized which session and bird this was and decided to give it a whirl with processing. Glad I did. I was fortunate in that I had a place to sit and a shelf to support the camera and lens. It was so small in frame I didn't want to add camera shake to the attempt.....because I really did think this was hopeless but wanted to try anyway. The bird was the size of a Large White Bug from my distance. Then when processing I added pixels in PS before exporting back to LR. |
Feb 10th |
6 comments - 4 replies for Group 94
|
12 comments - 8 replies Total
|
