-=Spot the "shopped" images Challenge=- Blue Heron

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well big blue and I have been having a good weekend as well....
This season he has seemingly lost all reasonable sense of fear of humans...
Two years ago I had worked with him for months just to get close enough fr a decent shot or two..
But life in an inner city park tends to have an effect on a bird...

He's now a "People Great Blue"

**EDIT** Spot the PhotoShop Challenge!
I'm thrilled to see no one has pointed out either of the two rather extensive PS "hacks" I did in two of the images below.... ;)

Consider this the challenge!
Spot the TWO PS jobs.. (were not talking sharpening.. were talking major work!)
Only two of the images above contain such re-working.. you have to figure which ones and what... and ones more obvious IMHO.

Hiding in the weeds;
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya58f3&noresize=1&nostamp=1

100% crop
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya58ff&noresize=1&nostamp=1

A tasty sunfish
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya58f1&noresize=1&nostamp=1


Just a typical 200mm f/1.8 background blur;
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya5830&noresize=1&nostamp=1

And lastly.. a few in flight; (pardon the harsh afternoon sun ;) )
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya583z&noresize=1&nostamp=1


http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya58fy&noresize=1&nostamp=1


http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ya58f2&noresize=1&nostamp=1

Check my Infra Red Stuff here! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=634589#post634589) ;)

[tupe]

Really good stuff, CDS. #7 is amazing - I've never seen a shot of the neck in flight that's so clear.

[Skip Souza]

Those are truly beautiful.

[LazyPhotographer]

These are all really great... that lens is sweet. #1 and the 100% crop of it is just amazing.

[EoSD30fReAk]

CDS i envy you with that 200mm f1.8!!

the shots are so sharp!

love the 100% crop.

[IanD]

I got to ask the same question that I asked Scott. Wadda you use? Red's Lobster rolls? Poutine? Double shots?
Wicked images.

[Reigh Higgins]

Absolutely wonderful shots! Thanks for sharing.

[Hellashot]

Well done! You should list your equipment in your signature so we don't have to ask what you used on them.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well done! You should list your equipment in your signature so we don't have to ask what you used on them.

thanks !

I don't list gear because you'd still have to ask.. (too long a list) especially if you didn't see it in the thread title ;)

Honestly.. I own too much stuff.. you'd never be able to tell by looking at a list which body or lens etc...

In this case I used the 20D.. and was really wishing I had brought the 1D MkII instead.
I had intended to only take some IR shots that day.. but brought the 20D and 70-300mm DO along for any opportunities that may arise. Last minute I tossed the 200mm in the trunk.

When out taking IR shots I happened across this guy.. and the 200mm went on!

[witchy]

These are fantastic I love all of them but especially numbers 2 and 3!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I got to ask the same question that I asked Scott. Wadda you use? Red's Lobster rolls? Poutine? Double shots?
Wicked images.

Lobster rolls! :lol:

[Jim_T]

Excellent GB heron shots..

There are lots of these 10 minutes from where I live (in the country near marshland).. But they're so skittish I can't get decent shots at 400mm.. They fly away well in advance of my arrival and are usuallyjust specks in the distance by the time I start shooting...

[CyberDyneSystems]

Excellent GB heron shots..

There are lots of these 10 minutes from where I live (in the country near marshland).. But they're so skittish I can't get decent shots at 400mm.. They fly away well in advance of my arrival and are usuallyjust specks in the distance by the time I start shooting...

Jim.. that's the norm around here too. they are not too fond of people usually.

this fellow has been living in a public City park for at least three years now.. which in the Summer can be VERY crowded with poeple. If he was scared of people.. he'd have a hard time feeding. .... and I am pretty sure that he may have been fed on occasion.. as he was really not at all concerend about my presence yesterday.. and showed some particualr interest in some kids that were fishing.

[Alan B]

WOW amazing shots :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :D

[guitarman3]

Awesome shots! What a magnificent bird!

[Scottes]

WoW! Nice shots - especially the first flight shot. That's stupendous.

Where'd ya get these? If you tell me that you were over at the spots near Colt I'm gonna cry because I was VERY close to going there on Sunday.

[ssim]

Sweet stuff CDS. I might just have to add that lens to my Christmas wish list (you listening Ian).

Hard to go wrong with lobster rolls.http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

[myth337]

I like #7.. nice angle.. nice pose.
There are a few around where I live too.. but they don't sit still long enough to focus my manual lens... (saving for the 100-400.. at the 50% mark.)
.. Lee

[luisv]

Great shots... I love the in-flight ones... :) :) :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Thanks Guys..

And I'm thrilled to see no one has pointed out either of the two rather extensive PS "hacks" I did in two of the above images.... ;)

Consider this the challenge!
Spot the TWO PS jobs.. (were not talking sharpening.. were talking major work!)
Only two of the images above contain such re-working.. you have to figure which ones and what... and ones more obvious IMHO.

:)

[Maz]

Those are really nice and close. Great stuff and thanks for showing them.

Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com

[tommykjensen]

thanks !

I don't list gear because you'd still have to ask.. (too long a list) especially if you didn't see it in the thread title ;)

Honestly.. I own too much stuff.. you'd never be able to tell by looking at a list which body or lens etc...


Why not do what I and a few other do, put the info in a border on the photo. I seem to recall someone have written a PS action to take the exif info and put it into a border.

Great photos btw. :D

[cfcRebel]

Wow, awesome series CDS! #3, #6 and #7 are wonderful! Action shots are always my favorite.

I really cannot find the major PS job that u mentioned. Great job! ;)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yeah.. I like a good action shot too :)

Hmmm.. is my PS work that good.. ??

No takers...?

[PhotosGuy]

VERY nice shots! I've been away from Nature for awhile. Some great stuff here! ;-)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well you did post a nice yellow bird last week.... :)
Thanks Frank :)

[tupe]

3 & 4?

[RichardtheSane]

I agree on three, at least two areas look shopped. And I think that is the obvious one - although it stands up well and is a good shopping!
Going to look closer at the rest now

[Sikario]

Yes the area around the feet on #3?

[hauff]

[QUOTE=And I'm thrilled to see no one has pointed out either of the two rather extensive PS "hacks" I did in two of the above images.... ;)

[/QUOTE]

I think you PS'ed the sunfish into the herons mouth in the third picture. ?????

[CyberDyneSystems]

Were close with the 3rd image..

The fish was in the herons moth.. I have half a dozen other pics to prove it.. ;)
But I recall I selected the fish seperately and boosted saturation.. this looks to have left some artifacts...

It's around the feet though that the major change took place.
In front of the bird was some trash and concrete.. where as behind him was this noce natural looking green grass...

What's a nature phtographer to do? :lol: ;)

[CyberDyneSystems]

To kill this thread.. I'll fess up to the second one feeling comfortable in the knowledge that no one could find it! :)

the 5th image.. the first flight shot.. the birds left wing.. (the one on our right viewing it) was cut off at the wing tip...

I had to enlarge the entire canvas.. clone in the background all along the bottom edge.. and manuall "drew in" the wing tip.. trying to mirror the curve and seperation of the primaries on the right wing... but obviously as viewed from a different angle. You can see that it points forward too much.. rather than curve up... ;)

[PhotosGuy]

That was a great PSing job. I'd wondered if you might have put the white bits IN the 1st two pics just to mess with us! ;-)
So, why leave them in?

[CyberDyneSystems]

The white bits..
the bird was "preening" those are tiny bits of feather it dislodged!
they stayed in because I was showing offf the shapness and detail that the "Holy Grail ©" picked up ;)

[HJMinard]

Very nice shots, CDS!

[poolstok]

Would I be right in saying that 'Tasty Sunfish' had some serious brightness and contrast editing done to it? Just seems that with such a bright correct exposed BG the detail in the wing should be lost.

And number 2? "100% crop" It seemed you did some deep edging with PS set to Bilnear in stead of Bicubic for the interpolation setting. But if I am right, why did you deep edge it? COntrast and brightness correction again, or maybe the BG was not out of focus enough for you?

IF I am right, it is still a very good job. May not have picked it up unless you challenged me....

Later

Johan

[poolstok]

DOH! Why don't I just read to the second page of the thread before posting? Well, at least I got one right, as well as show that I have a lot to learn about exposure eh?

Really nice work.....

Later

Johan

[Maureen Souza]

These are just gorgeous. I haven't had the patience to sit and watch for the perfect bird shots.... but I sure enjoy those of you who do!!