Cattails In Light: I loved the light on these cattails. The bird is a composite and really stretched the limit of my skills so no pixel peeping. I just thought he needed to be there.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

I loved the light on these cattails. The bird is a composite and really stretched the limit of my skills so no pixel peeping. I just thought he needed to be there. Your thoughts, comments and reworks are welcome.

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Charlie'smom

Very, very nice!

Dave Chinn

kenievans wrote:

I loved the light on these cattails. The bird is a composite and really stretched the limit of my skills so no pixel peeping. I just thought he needed to be there. Your thoughts, comments and reworks are welcome.

Well she looks fine and dandy sitting there. I don't pixel peep, but did take a closer look. No issues within my eyes. The light direction seems to be spot on along with the contrast. Both seem to match pretty well.
Dave

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The bird looks good, the light is yummy. I'm always attracted to cattails as photo op.

Exif doesn't show up; can you tell me focal length and aperture? I am wondering if you would have been able to get the background more out of focus, or if you are good with it as-is? I feel the cattails would have more impact with less detail behind them. Perhaps from a mushroom-like low angle?

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Charlie'smom wrote:

Very, very nice!

Thank you ma'am!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Dave Chinn wrote:

Well she looks fine and dandy sitting there. I don't pixel peep, but did take a closer look. No issues within my eyes. The light direction seems to be spot on along with the contrast. Both seem to match pretty well.
Dave

Thanks Dave. I seriously want to improve my composite skills. I ordered a cheaper version of the Wacom tablet to help with the finer details but haven't really used it much yet. It is going to take some time to get used to it.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda From Maine wrote:

The bird looks good, the light is yummy. I'm always attracted to cattails as photo op.

Exif doesn't show up; can you tell me focal length and aperture? I am wondering if you would have been able to get the background more out of focus, or if you are good with it as-is? I feel the cattails would have more impact with less detail behind them. Perhaps from a mushroom-like low angle?

Thanks Linda. I don't know why I have been losing my Exif data on some of my pics. Maybe switching between apps to work on it? It was shot at ISO 100 F4.5 ss 1/640 with my 55-250mm lens. That is pretty close to wide open for that lens. I was not completely satisfied with the background. I tried applying several different texture filters and did't like that either so I left it as is but I do think i somehow need to go further with it. Maybe I need a new toy like Topaz to play with.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

kenievans wrote:

Thanks Linda. I don't know why I have been losing my Exif data on some of my pics. Maybe switching between apps to work on it? It was shot at ISO 100 F4.5 ss 1/640 with my 55-250mm lens. That is pretty close to wide open for that lens. I was not completely satisfied with the background. I tried applying several different texture filters and did't like that either so I left it as is but I do think i somehow need to go further with it. Maybe I need a new toy like Topaz to play with.

We can never have too many pp toys!

What exact focal length? That may be the key here. Depending on distance from cattails to trees, if you had been able to use the longer end of the zoom (obviously, would need to stand back further back), you might have been able to throw the background more out of focus than if you were using the 55 mm end.

Yes, some apps do scrub the exif, including my little online befunky

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda From Maine wrote:

We can never have too many pp toys! br br What e... (show quote)

I was shooting at 84mm focal length. The problem with moving further back was that the ground behind me had a very steep almost 45 degree slope upwards. Moving straight back would have taken me up that slope. Moving to the left or right would have put things in the background I didn't want. It was a very narrow window for that view.

I tried blurring it by hand and although it is more blurry I don't see that enhances it any more than the original. Maybe I should have gone further.

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ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

kenievans wrote:

I loved the light on these cattails. The bird is a composite and really stretched the limit of my skills so no pixel peeping. I just thought he needed to be there. Your thoughts, comments and reworks are welcome.

Without the bird, my eye has nothing specific to focus on. With the bird, I have a point of interest. You are right, the bird needs to be there.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

kenievans wrote:

It was a very narrow window for that view...

You studied the possibilities, that's the important thing. I hate coming home and having the belated thought, "oh, only if I'd tried it this way!"

Using layers and layer masks, I desaturated and lightened (via levels mid-tones) the background, then did an additional layer of saturation just to increase the yellows. I tried a little low-opacity cloning of sky onto trees, but that didn't work out so well. I think the colors and brightness may be key here. But, as always, just one person's opinion. In fact, it's possible I've drawn more attention to the background than less. Oh, and I lost your blue sky too - don't listen to me!

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DaveC1 Loc: South East US

The bird looks good there. One of the problems with such transplanting is getting the light right on the object that's dropped in. While not exactly perfect you did a pretty good job with this.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

ebrunner wrote:

Without the bird, my eye has nothing specific to focus on. With the bird, I have a point of interest. You are right, the bird needs to be there.

Woohoo Erich. I think some of my lessons are starting to stick.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

DaveC1 wrote:

The bird looks good there. One of the problems with such transplanting is getting the light right on the object that's dropped in. While not exactly perfect you did a pretty good job with this.

I shot the bird months ago in my back yard on the shepherds hook holding my bird feeder. It was during the golden hour. I agree while not perfect it works.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda From Maine wrote:

You studied the possibilities, that's the importan... (show quote)

I appreciate the effort. I think I like the original the best, at least at this point. I may play some more.