Fix heatwaves: Is there anyway to fix heatwaves in post? I have a few pics of a hawks nest with chicks but the heatwaves kinda ruin the pics....anyway to fix that? I have Lightroom...

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Is there anyway to fix heatwaves in post? I have a few pics of a hawks nest with chicks but the heatwaves kinda ruin the pics....anyway to fix that? I have Lightroom Classic, Photoshop and the Affinity program.

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minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I have never found any way to cure heat waves other than avoidance. Living in the South, I have trouble with this a lot. They not only create mirage-like effects in the air, they interfere with focus, which is impossible to fix. The chicks are of course amazing, and there are so many! I hope you have other chances with this little family. I might be tempted to do an artistic type processing just to see if that would help but I fear it might not work because their little faces and the sticks of the nest seem like they need more detail. I do hope someone else will find a way to help!

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

minniev wrote:

I have never found any way to cure heat waves othe... (show quote)

Thank Minniey.....I won't be going back to that area for at least another few weeks to a month or so....hopefully they are still there! Now that I know where the nest is...I will be able to get there early in the morning instead of late in the afternoon.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

CindyHouk wrote:

Thank Minniey.....I won't be going back to that area for at least another few weeks to a month or so....hopefully they are still there! Now that I know where the nest is...I will be able to get there early in the morning instead of late in the afternoon.

I’m sure morning will be better.

I know I get my best bird shots in the early morning. If they’re fairly still I do best with single focus point, a shutter of 1/1000, and if they’re white, spot metering. If they’re flying around or diving I go even faster with the shutter and probably one of the continuous focus modes and multiple exposures. Birds are hard! But worth it. Be sure to show us the results of your next visit.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I can't think of an easy fix, but if you're willing to select the areas most affected by the heat waves (the background, avoiding the twigs and chicks), their presence can be greatly reduced. The adjustments that I gave that selection (in Lr 6) were -

Contrast fully left, Highlights fully left, Shadows fully right, Clarity left to -12, Denoise to +50.

Image #1 is those adjustments duplicated once. Image #2 is those adjustments duplicated twice.
.

#1

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#2
#2...

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Original.
Original....

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I have been waiting to try out Topaz Sharpen AI so I downloaded the trial version and gave it a shot on this photo. Very impressive results I think!!

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Revet wrote:

I have been waiting to try out Topaz Sharpen AI so I downloaded the trial version and gave it a shot on this photo. Very impressive results I think!!

Is it possible to selectively use the sharpening so that the background isn't included? Combine R.G.'s and yours and we have a winner

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

minniev wrote:

The chicks are of course amazing, and there are so many!

I had no idea there could be so many in one birthing! With heat waves and focus, shooting across pavement should be avoided also. Of course, I know you are into rock and cliff climbing, so no worries for Minnie

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Linda From Maine wrote:

Is it possible to selectively use the sharpening so that the background isn't included? Combine R.G.'s and yours and we have a winner

Yes Linda, I looked and I see that Topaz Sharpen AI is showing up in PS as a filter so it would be easy to just apply the sharpening to the nest and fledglings. When I have some time I will give it a whirl. I can see $79 being spent on this program in the very near future!!!

bleirer

Cropping is one idea. Second idea is oddball but might be worth a try, try the liquify brush on the background to pull the light areas over the dark area, painting a new sky.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

R.G. wrote:

I can't think of an easy fix, but if you're willing to select the areas most affected by the heat waves (the background, avoiding the twigs and chicks), their presence can be greatly reduced. The adjustments that I gave that selection (in Lr 6) were -

Contrast fully left, Highlights fully left, Shadows fully right, Clarity left to -12, Denoise to +50.

Image #1 is those adjustments duplicated once. Image #2 is those adjustments duplicated twice.
.

That is amazing! thank you for showing me a way...I will play and see if I can come close to what you have accomplished. These do look so much better.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks everyone....I will give everyone's suggestions a try and see which one I can get to work!

melueth Loc: Central Florida

Revet wrote:

Yes Linda, I looked and I see that Topaz Sharpen AI is showing up in PS as a filter so it would be easy to just apply the sharpening to the nest and fledglings. When I have some time I will give it a whirl. I can see $79 being spent on this program in the very near future!!!

I'm pretty sure all the Topaz Adjustments have a masking feature built right in . . . it's the plus sign within the adjustment tool. You wouldn't need to re-open in PS. I bought AI Clear a while back and use it all the time, with masking inside that adjustment tool.
ML

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Took this as far as I would like, but not sure how far you would like. The two steps in Photoshop can be experimented with.
First, /Filters/Sharpen/Shake reduction, selecting the frontmost chick and part of the nest.
Next, Sharpening tool on the chicks' heads.

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CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Revet wrote:

I have been waiting to try out Topaz Sharpen AI so I downloaded the trial version and gave it a shot on this photo. Very impressive results I think!!

Yes....very impressive....might have to look into that program!