POST YOUR BIRDS IN FLIGHT !!!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19030952
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I just took this this morning, at my local marsh. . This time of year, I usually get out to shoot the Red-winged Blackbirds every morning and every evening, when it is sunny out. . Locally, it's usually the first good opportunity of the new year.

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
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forum: Birds

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Hi Tom

Beautiful photo of this striking bird we don't see down under.

Hope you don't mind, but I used PS CC Content Aware Fill to remove the grasses than a Nik PlugIn, ColorEfex 4 Pro (Detail Extractor) which lifted some shadow details in the feathers.

Cheers

Dennis

nardes wrote in post #19030977
Hi Tom

Beautiful photo of this striking bird we don't see down under.

Hope you don't mind, but I used PS CC Content Aware Fill to remove the grasses than a Nik PlugIn, ColorEfex 4 Pro (Detail Extractor) which lifted some shadow details in the feathers.

Cheers

Dennis

Hosted photo: posted by nardes in
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forum: Birds

Dennis...this is truly an outstanding shot!! Great photoshop work.

nardes wrote in post #19030977
Hi Tom

Beautiful photo of this striking bird we don't see down under.

Hope you don't mind, but I used PS CC Content Aware Fill to remove the grasses than a Nik PlugIn, ColorEfex 4 Pro (Detail Extractor) which lifted some shadow details in the feathers.

Cheers

Dennis

Hosted photo: posted by nardes in
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forum: Birds

Hey, Dennis!

That's fine if you like it that way.

Personally, I much prefer to have the "grasses" in my Blackbird photos. . They are actually Cattail seed heads, and are vital to the lifecycle of this species. . In my opinion, they make the image more beautiful and more interesting, by adding structure and context.

I actually try to compose my images in such a way as to ensure that I get the Cattails in the frame, and in the right place in the frame, relative to the bird. . A Red-winged Blackbird photo without the grasses around it just doesn't look right to my eye, but have at it if you like.

I also prefer that the darks be darker than what you have done .... I actually spent quite a bit of time making my colors and contrast levels exactly what I wanted them to be like before I posted the image. . It's fine if you like it your way, and I don't mind you editing my photo to your tastes ..... but I don't want you or others thinking that I posted something without first putting a lot of time and careful thought into making all of the tones and the levels and the colors precisely the way I wanted them to be.

............... ............... ............... ............... ...............

Here's another RWBB photo from this morning, with even more Cattails in the frame! . I toyed around with adjustments to the dark plumage, and I much prefer this to any version in which the plumage was any lighter. . In my opinion, in this image, it just looks BAD when the darks are lightened up a tad.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19030987
Dennis...this is truly an outstanding shot!! Great photoshop work.

Thanks Mike - full credit to Tom for recording this wonderful moment in nature and credit to the developers at Adobe, Nik, Topaz etc. for implementing such easy to use post processing tools. I find that sticking with the Default settings on the Plug Ins caters for 99% of what I need to do.

I like the Plug Ins as they offer instant, easy too use and repeatable standard recipes so I don't have to fiddles with sliders, settings, etc.

Cheers

Dennis

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19030990
Hey, Dennis!

That's fine if you like it that way.

Personally, I much prefer to have the "grasses" in my Blackbird photos. . They are actually Cattail seed heads, and are vital to the lifecycle of this species. . In my opinion, they make the image more beautiful and more interesting, by adding structure and context.

I actually try to compose my images in such a way as to ensure that I get the Cattails in the frame, and in the right place in the frame, relative to the bird. . A Red-winged Blackbird photo without the grasses around it just doesn't look right to my eye, but have at it if you like.

Here's another, with even more Cattails in the frame!

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
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forum: Birds

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No worries Tom - thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, it is always good to understand the variety of styles, preferences and approaches in our community.

Cheers

Dennis

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19030952
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I just took this this morning, at my local marsh. . This time of year, I usually get out to shoot the Red-winged Blackbirds every morning and every evening, when it is sunny out. . Locally, it's usually the first good opportunity of the new year.

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
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forum: Birds

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Very nice Tom, I really love listening to these guys. I grew up near a creek in Lombard Ill. so hearing them takes me home if you know what I mean.
There's a walking trail about three miles from our house here in Southern MO. along the Bull Shoals lake that's a really great spot to photograph them.
Great shot!!

Harry

Mallard drake.

Thank you

Thank you Mike

Thank you

Brown Pelican.

Barnacle Geese

Calliope, trying to figure out what is up with her wing, almost looks injured. She seemed to be flying fine, just looks strange.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #19029353
Amazing capture in difficult light.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19029361
Phenomenal flight shot, Shalu!!

Thank you very much, Robert and Mike!

Violet-green swallow. A7RIV.

Archibald wrote in post #19031106
Brown Pelican.

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forum: Birds

Really nice, Archi. You sure nailed this one.

rgfrison wrote in post #19031114
Calliope, trying to figure out what is up with her wing, almost looks injured. She seemed to be flying fine, just looks strange.

Hosted photo: posted by rgfrison in
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forum: Birds

Excellent...spot on!

shalu wrote in post #19031186
Thank you very much, Robert and Mike!

Violet-green swallow. A7RIV.

Hosted photo: posted by shalu in
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forum: Birds

Wonderful flight shot of a particularly difficult subject, Shalu!!