two old buzzards: Just for anyone who can't sleep and wants something to play with, here's a photo I've always liked in spite of its warts (not very sharp, underexposed thus noisy).

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Just for anyone who can't sleep and wants something to play with, here's a photo I've always liked in spite of its warts (not very sharp, underexposed thus noisy). I've done it up several different ways. These guys will never pose for me in that same tree with that curly twig again, I know. I got a couple of quick snaps handheld but by the time I got my tripod, they were on the ground smacking away on a dead catfish.

Better crop? Better processing? Ideas, critique and experiments welcome.

I posted my edited version first and a zero'd out version for download and experimentation.

old buzzards processed

old buzzards zero'd out

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Nicely composed. 8-)

howlynn Loc: pueblo west, co

gave it a try

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Here's a black and white with some texture added. Thanks for posting, it is an interesting shot.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thanks to Heirloomtomato and Howlynn for giving the old buzzards some exercise. Both of you found a few details hidden in the file that may help me rescue them. I have a soft spot for buzzards, they almost never get their pictures taken! We all flock to get shots of wood storks, spoonbills and all kinds of herons but we have no respect for buzzards, who perform unpleasant work that no one else wants to do.

And they really are kind of interesting if you look at them closely.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

minniev wrote:

Thanks to Heirloomtomato and Howlynn for giving the old buzzards some exercise. Both of you found a few details hidden in the file that may help me rescue them. I have a soft spot for buzzards, they almost never get their pictures taken! We all flock to get shots of wood storks, spoonbills and all kinds of herons but we have no respect for buzzards, who perform unpleasant work that no one else wants to do.

And they really are kind of interesting if you look at them closely.

My daughter did a lithograph print of two turkey vultures and she sold a few of them to people who like these birds. She was inspired by Junior, the resident turkey vulture at our local wildlife rehab center. He is gentle, and a very delicate eater, she says.

MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand

A bad photo with no care whatsoever having been taken and not worthy of any of our attention. More worthy of the Idle Chatter section. You insult us, particularly in this section.
Mike

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

MIKE GALLAGHER wrote:

A bad photo with no care whatsoever having been taken and not worthy of any of our attention. More worthy of the Idle Chatter section. You insult us, particularly in this section.
Mike

A bit harsh Mike and I didn't feel insulted at all. :)

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

MIKE GALLAGHER wrote:

A bad photo with no care whatsoever having been taken and not worthy of any of our attention. More worthy of the Idle Chatter section. You insult us, particularly in this section.
Mike

Is this a "juried selections only" section now? I was not aware of a rule change. I hope you are not serious and that your comment reads unintentionally harshly. There is always the option to click away from any thread that you don't "click" with.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Here is another view, removed some distracting branches and cropped. Contrast adjust in Light Room

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

MIKE GALLAGHER wrote:

A bad photo with no care whatsoever having been taken and not worthy of any of our attention. More worthy of the Idle Chatter section. You insult us, particularly in this section.
Mike

Any and all photos are welcome in this section. We want to encourage the beginners and refine the experts. We are all at different levels and no matter what level they need to be treated with respect. Instead the OP would have been better served by you if you had told him what he could do different next time to improve the shot.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

minniev wrote:

Just for anyone who can't sleep and wants somethin... (show quote)

While your image is more than welcome here for critique. You might also submit it to the Post Processing group and see what they can come up with.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

howlynn wrote:

gave it a try

You need to at least tell what you did and why so that it can be replicated by the OP and to keep with the rules of this section.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

minniev wrote:

Just for anyone who can't sleep and wants somethin... (show quote)

use your processed version. keep he sky as is, Darken all else to black sillouhette ( I never spell that right...so sue me) and crop the right side to lose the vertical trunk.
a wonderfully malevolent scene.
Dave in SD

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Uuglypher wrote:

use your processed version. keep he sky as is, Darken all else to black sillouhette ( I never spell that right...so sue me) and crop the right side to lose the vertical trunk.
a wonderfully malevolent scene.
Dave in SD

Thank you. I think you've given me an insight into making a half decent keeper out of the old boys. Turn it into a graphic. Then I can be aggressive enough with it to fill in the missing detail/sharpness.