Help me improve my bear shot from Alaska. (PIC)

[srv656s]

I took this a month ago in Alaska. It's probably the best of my series I took when this bear came by. I really like the photo, but something just doesn't seem quite right with it. I've tried tweaking it a few times, but have not been happy with the results.

The lens I used had some bluriness in some areas, and I think the color isn't quite right with this one either. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

If you have any ideas on how to improve this image with any post processing techniques, I would love to hear from you. Also, if you wanted to play with it yourself, feel free.

PIC:
http://ct.pbase.com/g6/30/722230/2/69494339.f4M9TKGD.jpg

Original:
http://ct.pbase.com/o5/30/722230/1/69494339.5FjFnGi1.IMG_6229.jpg

Don't know why this isn't working... here's a direct link to the gallery-
Link to gallery:
Link - Alaska pic (http://www.pbase.com/faker/alaska)

[Scottes]

Link broken.

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /o5/30/722230/1/69488198.4k04f3rI.IMG_6229.jpg on this server.

[srv656s]

I think i fixed it...

Shawn

[Akchas]

Shawn
I am not sure if you were talking about the link or the image?
It needs three things I can see the nosie need to be cleaned up, a un-sharpening needs to be done, and last it needs the colors corrected.

Nice to see another Alaskan Photographer here.

Chas

[srv656s]

Akchas-

Just fixed the link, not the picture.

thanks for the feedback-

Shawn

[lostdoggy]

I could try to fix it but just can't post it for you to see. You don't EDIT OK listed in your profile.

[lostdoggy]

Your top 2 links are forbidden again

[srv656s]

I could try to fix it but just can't post it for you to see. You don't EDIT OK listed in your profile.

I edited my prefs... didn't know that option was even in there!

[srv656s]

Your top 2 links are forbidden again

I don't know why that's such a problem. It looks like the direct link is still working...

Shawn

[Chazs]

I like the photo. A little cropping helps. Also, some photos may just not bode well for print, and are better suited for the web....and just like people, some photos benefit more from a little spicing up (borders, shadows, etc) (aka, makeup). I still like the photo a lot, even though it may not make a perfect print.

[pxl8]

Here's my effort, the steps were:

Noise ninja using ISO800 profile
Set colour balance from the water foam
Tweaked levels
Ran focus magic to recover some sharpness
Cropped
USM with a 50px radius, 15 strength to increase local contrast
Duplicated the layer
Mono conversion
Created a mask for this layer from luminance values
Set top layer to Soft Light blend mode
Reduced layer opacity to 70%
Scaled to 800px wide
Ran focus magic again, 1px size, 50% strength

[lostdoggy]

Wow Pxl8 thats great work, now I'm too embrass to post mine!!!

[StewartR]

grandad35, I think you need to calibrate your monitor. The colours in the effort you posted are all over the place.

[srv656s]

Wow Pxl8 thats great work, now I'm too embrass to post mine!!!

Wow, I agree. I really like the way that turned out... thanks for messing with that. If you have that in the original size, I'd love it if you could send it to me...

Thanks for the help!

Shawn

[TeeJay]

Nice pic, and some fabulous work done by others, however, each of the other posters (IMHO) have made the same mistake(?) - in that the positioning of the bear makes it appear to be LEAVING the frame, I think it would look better if it had room to move into (i.e. more room to the left, as we look at it)

Maybe the only way to overcome this is to crop close, but in a panarama view.

TJ

[Chazs]

Nice pic, and some fabulous work done by others, however, each of the other posters (IMHO) have made the same mistake(?) - in that the positioning of the bear makes it appear to be LEAVING the frame, I think it would look better if it had room to move into (i.e. more room to the left, as we look at it)

Maybe the only way to overcome this is to crop close, but in a panarama view.

TJ

That bothered me, as well, but chopping off the white water part looked equally disturbing. Guess the bear needed to be asked to be turned around and posed. :D When I was on Kodiak Island, years ago, I got within 100 yards of a female with two cubs. I couldn't get away from her fast enough. :eek:

[TeeJay]

That bothered me, as well, but chopping off the white water part looked equally disturbing. Guess the bear needed to be asked to be turned around and posed. :D

Yes, I considerd that. But maybe creatign a slightly "streched view" (not necessarily a full blown panarama, but close) you could leave the white water in, allow some room for the bear to move into, AND create the view you might be looking for.

When I was on Kodiak Island, years ago, I got within 100 yards of a female with two cubs. I couldn't get away from her fast enough. :eek:

I'm amazed you got THAT close! - I'm led to believe they can certainly move when they want to - can't they run as fast as a galloping horse over short distances?

That reminds me of a story I was once told, if confronted by a wild animal simply throw some manure at the animal to scare it off. When asked where to find some in such an emergency I was told there would be plenty around!!:lol:
(the old stories are the best!)

[Rumjungle]

I liked pxl8's version so I went with a similar crop and did some burning to shift more focus to the bear:
http://ct.pbase.com/o5/60/643160/1/69684352.AjBvwaLW.srv656sbearpp.jpg

And here, same thing but with smoother water:
http://ct.pbase.com/o5/60/643160/1/69684973.6PrHZONE.srv656sbearpp.jpg

[ben4633]

I like the photo. A little cropping helps. Also, some photos may just not bode well for print, and are better suited for the web....and just like people, some photos benefit more from a little spicing up (borders, shadows, etc) (aka, makeup). I still like the photo a lot, even though it may not make a perfect print.


Very nice job on the pic. What program did you use for the boarder?