I know this shot can look better

[anothernewb]

just need a lil help how. I'd welcom some other's PP on it
chance capture so the jpeg series is all I got. I was driving along the river front just kinda of wandering and these 2 decided to fly towards me as all the rest were leaving.

here's the pics chopped down for hosting. shoot me a PM for the original(s).

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_01.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_02.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_03.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_04.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_05.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_06.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/chase-aise/swan_07.jpg

[victor_b]

I saw your image editing OK, so I made a few modifications... Cropped a bit, made the coast horizontal, + some curves... Only that the first is almost in the midle of the pic... Hope you dont mind...

[anothernewb]

don't mind at all. I'm encouraging people to take these and edit them. I'm hoping someone here can lead me to a method that might turn this series into something I can print.

[corkneyfonz]

I have to agree with Victor b's edit, it looks pretty amazing now. Great potential.

[rw2]

Remove color cast, levels, Noise ninja,curves blue channel, decreaseing the blue color.

[chomish]

Well im no expert, but heres my attempt.

[anothernewb]

rw2. wow. I wish the day actually did look the way your edits made it look.
is noise ninja purchase software or shareware?
I have photoshop 6, but almost no clue how to use it.
by curves on the blue channel, can you explain how you did that please? I think I understand the basic idea, I've used curves somewhat before, but only the combined rgb. Then i assume you further decreased the blue channel in some other aspect?

[rw2]

I use PSE 5
Noise Ninja is an add on but is a paid program. There was not a lot of noise in these shots. Noise Ninja is part of my work flow so I used it here.
PSE 5 and earlier does not have a good curves tool. So I use Smart curve. Another add on, this one is free.
You can see my exact work flow in the attached picture.
I also attached a pic showing the settings for Unsharp mask. These settings add contrast and some sharpening. Noise Ninja also sharpens during noise reduction.

[Chris]

That was some pretty amazing light you had for that series.

[SJC from VT]

Wow to all. The originals and all the edits nicely done.

[anothernewb]

thanks much. the light was sheer freak of luck. 9:30am, just high enough to clear the trees on the far bank of the river. I was out to look for neat pictures of water mist. We had one of those super clear cold nights and I was hoping to catch a shot of the river full of fog like it does when cold.

[Flo]

This series is just wonderfully lit.the colors, everything is beautiful and calm.

Actually, except for levelelling the shore.....I would be happy with them as is..

Of course, I had to play:)

Just tonal contrast, dodge and burn the head of the lead swan, and a crop of 16X9..
http://macymae.smugmug.com/Animals/Animals/swan07/761521597_ebFfk-XL.jpg