Reflections from a Sunday afternoon

[jgrussell]

Getting two (well... three) birds with one stone... Trying out reflections and getting obligatory shots with new 70-200 f4. Now, how can I make them better???

1.

http://photos.jgrussell.com/photos/403191054_VNThX-X3.jpg

2.

http://photos.jgrussell.com/photos/403191164_sHRj8-X3.jpg

3.

http://photos.jgrussell.com/photos/403191638_aYvCy-X3.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

For some reason the first image is not as compelling as the two others. It may be that it is a little too symmetrical and a little too perfect.

I like #3 in spite of it being more blue than I would like.

I think I like #2 the best because it has a little darker reflection and looks a little more real. Crazy, eh?

[chauncey]

#1 does look created, the water line is to perfect, no ripples, in spite of the ripples in the water.
Don't great me wrong though, they are great shots.

[Nathan]

I think #3 is a wonderful shot... it conveys movement whereas the other two are basically static.

[Cdeming]

I think #3 is a wonderful shot... it conveys movement whereas the other two are basically static.


I agree!

[jgrussell]

For some reason the first image is not as compelling as the two others. It may be that it is a little too symmetrical and a little too perfect.Hmmm... of all the comments I might have expected, "a little too perfect" isn't one of 'em! Thanks for your thoughts.

[jgrussell]

#1 does look created, the water line is to perfect, no ripples, in spite of the ripples in the water. Don't great me wrong though, they are great shots.Thanks. I'm not sure what I could have done to improve #1 -- scare the bird into movement, maybe -- and couldn't think of anything in particular to try with PP. Maybe more depth to the image? Less of the bird, more of the pond?

[jgrussell]

I think #3 is a wonderful shot... it conveys movement whereas the other two are basically static.Thanks! Yes, I was glad to get that one. I think it thought I would feed it if it came over towards me!

[Flo]

I like the second shot of the Canada Goose.they are graceful in the water, so they don't usually show alot of ripples. Nice detail on the face.

[jgrussell]

I like the second shot of the Canada Goose.they are graceful in the water, so they don't usually show alot of ripples. Nice detail on the face.Thanks! Yes, they were out in force this weekend and all just incredibly graceful.

[Flo]

I hand raised 7 CG two years ago...they are a blast.I have about..oh....a thousand photos.lol..:o They lived with us for a full year.

[midnitejam]

I like all three shots. The shot of the hybrid duck-goose in #1 does have an issue where the bird meets the surface of the water. But that's not because it's too perfect. It just needed closer scrutiny in the post processing.

Good work, especially your technique for reflections.

[jgrussell]

The shot of the hybrid duck-goose in #1 does have an issue where the bird meets the surface of the water. But that's not because it's too perfect. It just needed closer scrutiny in the post processing.How would you have handled it? (I didn't PP in that area at all.) Thanks!

[Broncobear]

#2 , the slight slant makes the image more dynamic, # 3 is very good but a little too blue.

[Nathan]

Ooo... I see what people mean by too blue, now. I'm on a different monitor. None of my monitors are calibrated, but on my laptop at home last night the picture was not too blue.

[midnitejam]

How would you have handled it? (I didn't PP in that area at all.) Thanks!
Your shot is beautiful as is. But the surface/duck convergence is complexing. Maybe your selection procedure during PP wasn't feathered enough?

I'm not as adept in post processing as you apparently are. You have very good skills.

I haven't yet learned how to enhance reflections. I would definitely be obliged if you would share your technique.

[jgrussell]

Your shot is beautiful as is. But the surface/duck convergence is complexing. Maybe your selection procedure during PP wasn't feathered enough? I'm not as adept in post processing as you apparently are. You have very good skills. I haven't yet learned how to enhance reflections. I would definitely be obliged if you would share your technique.I don't think I did much, if any enhancement. Here's the same shot cropped with no post-processing at all:

http://www.pbase.com/image/105156670/original.jpg

[jgrussell]

#2 , the slight slant makes the image more dynamic, # 3 is very good but a little too blue.#3 has the color as it came out of the camera. The blue water was reflecting the blue sky, and the light was starting to fade. I'm not very good at color-correction away from what was actually there. But I'd love to see what someone else could do with the shot!

[Bill Boehme]

I adjusted the WB in ACR and did some minor tonal adjustments and sharpening.

315796

[jgrussell]

Thanks, Bill. Nice to see what someone else would do with this.

[cabandrew]

If I were you in the last photo I would drop your iso several notches to reduce a little grain. Awesome shots though!

[midnitejam]

How would you have handled it? (I didn't PP in that area at all.) Thanks!

I would have placed the selection of the bird on its own layer. Flip the selection to make the reflection and move it down to simulate a reflection. smudged the line where the bird and water converge to make the reflection look more realistic. Then I would have clipped the layer with the selection to the background layer. Change the MODE to screen. In the STYLES BLENDING options, select the left slider in the UNDERLYING LAYER option in the dialog box and move it toward the right to let the water texture and ripples from the background layer show through. ALT+click on the slider to split it into two parts. experiment moving the right half of the slider to the right in combination with moving the left half of the slider separately until you get a believable reflection.

The slider process in this step allows the ripples in the water to display on the reflection.

[jgrussell]

I would have placed the selection of the bird on its own layer. Flip the selection to make the reflection and move it down to simulate a reflection.Sounds like an awful lot of work when the image itself has a REAL reflection, captured right in the camera! Whether the water line looks real or not, that's what it really looked like, and I have the RAW to prove it. I don't see how changing the real reflection into a fake reflection enhances the shot. Perhaps you can show me?

[Walczak Photo]

I have to admit that I'm a bit surprised at the comments about the first two shots. In number two, to me it clearly looks like a flash was used and as such all the shadow detail that was so lovely in the first shot was lost. To me it makes the shot look flat and lifeless. Just my humble opinion as always, but to me that first shot is a much better shot.

Sorry...can't say I really care for #3 that much there. Aside from the blue color issues, to me it just looks like a duck swimming towards you...nothing really special or spectacular there to me.

Peace,
Jim

[jgrussell]

In number two, to me it clearly looks like a flash was used and as such all the shadow detail that was so lovely in the first shot was lost. To me it makes the shot look flat and lifeless. Just my humble opinion as always, but to me that first shot is a much better shot.I like the first shot better myself, but the EXIF is intact and there was no flash on the second shot. Just a different position on the pond with different lighting.

[midnitejam]

Sounds like an awful lot of work when the image itself has a REAL reflection, captured right in the camera! Whether the water line looks real or not, that's what it really looked like, and I have the RAW to prove it. I don't see how changing the real reflection into a fake reflection enhances the shot. Perhaps you can show me?

jgrussell, forgive me for my error in judgement. Frame your image and hang it--it's an amazing capture.

[1shot4u]

like all 3 shots..nice