Quiet: I'm back to the humble practice of shooting simple stuff around here. This guy is a regular friend I've photographed for years on his favorite perch. Comments, suggestions, and...

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I'm back to the humble practice of shooting simple stuff around here. This guy is a regular friend I've photographed for years on his favorite perch.

Comments, suggestions, and edits all appreciated. (I've already cropped a little from bottom and right, since there is a lot of blank space.)

(Download)

Linda2 Loc: Yakima Wa.

Love the mist in the background and the light on your friend is perfect!

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

minniev wrote:

Comments, suggestions, and edits all appreciated. (I've already cropped a little from bottom and right, since there is a lot of blank space.)

A very nice image minniev. I may be totally off base but it appears to me you have lightened the bird, if so there are artifacts showing around him and his perch, his reflection doesn't seem to show the same brightness. Minor points but you did ask...actually quite well done. Decided to add this rendition, not sure why.....download of course.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

My kind of scene, Minnie! A gentle, serene image that's very appealing. More and more I'm attracted to shooting, and viewing from others, these simple natural moments. A response to the ugliness of the human world or a response to the over-saturated, slick and soulless pro landscape shots that are out there...maybe a bit of both.

I like Frank's rendition very much as well. I noticed it's one of those where download is a must (I would, of course, but others might not) because of the change in colors and brightness.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Linda2 wrote:

Love the mist in the background and the light on your friend is perfect!

Thank you Linda. It was the closest thing we've had to a foggy day for almost a year.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Frank2013 wrote:

A very nice image minniev. I may be totally off base but it appears to me you have lightened the bird, if so there are artifacts showing around him and his perch, his reflection doesn't seem to show the same brightness. Minor points but you did ask...actually quite well done. Decided to add this rendition, not sure why.....download of course.

Thanks, Frank, nice version. I always appreciate your eagle eyes and wish I had em! I'll look again at the photo but it is not processed much, just raised shadows a bit in LR, cropped some on the right and bottom, and sharpened, hasn't met PS yet! Maybe it just isn't a strong enough base file in the first place. Happens sometimes.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Linda From Maine wrote:

My kind of scene, Minnie! A gentle, serene image t... (show quote)

Thanks Linda. These are about all the scenes I have here, simple and very understated (Billy would say boring). But it's the season where I stay home, so I'll be posting more of these Home scenes interspersed with travel ones that I'm still working on. I know what you mean about the soul-less landscapes. I've grown kind of immune to them.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Told ya I might be off base. It may be the sharpening then. I thought that fog needed a touch more drama. Compare the two images, I cloned out around the bird you will see what I was talking about, I left it around most of the perch.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Frank2013 wrote:

Told ya I might be off base. It may be the sharpening then. I thought that fog needed a touch more drama. Compare the two images, I cloned out around the bird you will see what I was talking about, I left it around most of the perch.

You created a lot more drama out of the reflection too. I like the look, takes it in a whole new direction. Wanta say what you did?

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Mostly Ps work, curves, levels, high pass filter, some negative clarity in ACR, all masked of course. Cloned his head in a bit, in the reflection.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Its actually not boring min its serene which is different as Im sure you know. Its the pseudo intellect snapper, trying to impress, banging on about mundane having interest I will quite happily label boring. This is a quiet scene from nature captured in a natural way and whilst it may not stop gallery wanderers in their stride it has a charm all of its own.
Frank my dear boy I have to tell you your unnecessary overcomplicated PP has totally destroyed the mood of gentle serenity. You have taken an axe to a sapling . Please read the chapter on subtle in the PS manual. Looks like heron meets the apocalypse!
So min leave it as it is, you got one of the best set of mood eyes around here and you aint gonna learn much about that from those of us who struggle with it.
You know as you have depicted it here you have disguised any facet of the landscape being soulless. Probably not gonna get droves of tourists but it looks OK.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Was meant to give the OP a different view for thought Mr. Spad and I will admit to more detail on the bird than needed. I’m fine with your opinion of my rendition and partially agree but don’t believe that is what she is seeking. I still feel serenity in the scene, just a bit later and brighter in the morning. minniev knows exactly what she wants to portray in her posts and inquires about different viewpoints which I always try to give her my friend.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Quiet describes this very nicely Minnie. I can just imagine being there. The slight misty fog above the water indicates a still wind. This is the kind of scene I can spend a lot of time just sitting and enjoying. There is one small nit for me and probably JUST me. There is a dark spot in the water just to the right of the log in the upper 1/3 or so of the photo that just begs to be cloned out. I don't know why it bothers me so but my eye goes right to it. There are a couple of spots to the right of the bird but they don't bother me at all.

Walt

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Wished you hadn't said anything Walt now it's all I can see.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Frank2013 wrote:

Was meant to give the OP a different view for thought Mr. Spad and I will admit to more detail on the bird than needed. I’m fine with your opinion of my rendition and partially agree but don’t believe that is what she is seeking. I still feel serenity in the scene, just a bit later and brighter in the morning. minniev knows exactly what she wants to portray in her posts and inquires about different viewpoints which I always try to give her my friend.

Frank you moved the bird from just standing about chilling out in the morning air dreaming about the fresh coffee Mrs Heron is brewing back at the nest to one that's on full alert cos he has heard something that could pose a threat. It screws the serenity angle totally. Its PP cos one can not cos one should. Why does a simple scene need a curves and a levels adjustment? Destined to result in overkill. Remember this is just my opinion.
And min does know exactly what she wants to portray in a shot I believe from capture stage right through to presentation. We probably have no better exponent of the snappers art.
Inquiries about different viewpoints - maybe to learn? Scoff scoff scoff ol' Billy chortles as he wanders off scratching his head wondering what a master can learn from the apprentices. There is nothing I could teach the lady for sure.