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Can't get the Chick Pic to Pop!
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Oct 22, 2018 16:59:05   #
EvKar Loc: Middle of the Good Old USA
 
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep coming up short of what I envision as a sharp and brilliant picture.. a picture that Pops. What seems easy for the majority of the UHH members, is still beyond my grasp... a picture that Pops.
So I have been practicing on this cute picture of one of our chicks; knowing the brilliant colors in the the individual feathers, I thought it would be an accomplishment if I could get this picture to reflect the beauty.
The picture you see is PP as far as I can take it... I think. I do confess, I use "After Shot Pro 3", which seems to be not so popular within this forum, but it is affordable and I think has the same features as Lightroom. Same features, but maybe not the same standards for quality? I'd love to have Lightroom and Photoshop, but all the hobbies that I desire require some prioritization of funds. And if After Shot can't do the job, maybe I will be forced to use something better.
Anyway, was wondering if any UHH could improve on my attempt. Maybe it is just a poor photo in the first place and the color isn't there, due to the bird being in the shadows. Lesson learned is to shoot cute pictures in the sun light. If you are able to improve the picture, for my learning purposes, can you share with me the settings that you tweaked... more highlight, less of this, etc.
The RAW version is 28 mg, so for you to download it, I've put it on my Nikon Image Space. You can download via this link … http://img.gg/tzfv9zk
Thanks,
Ev

What's You Looking At?
What's You Looking At?...

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Oct 22, 2018 17:14:28   #
throughrhettseyes Loc: Rowlett, TX
 
No dynamic range. Look up increasing dynamic range on you tube. You will find how to shoot with more dynamic range and how to bring it out of a raw pic with light room also.

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Oct 22, 2018 17:15:23   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
EvKar wrote:
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep coming up short of what I envision as a sharp and brilliant picture.. a picture that Pops. What seems easy for the majority of the UHH members, is still beyond my grasp... a picture that Pops.
So I have been practicing on this cute picture of one of our chicks; knowing the brilliant colors in the the individual feathers, I thought it would be an accomplishment if I could get this picture to reflect the beauty.
The picture you see is PP as far as I can take it... I think. I do confess, I use "After Shot Pro 3", which seems to be not so popular within this forum, but it is affordable and I think has the same features as Lightroom. Same features, but maybe not the same standards for quality? I'd love to have Lightroom and Photoshop, but all the hobbies that I desire require some prioritization of funds. And if After Shot can't do the job, maybe I will be forced to use something better.
Anyway, was wondering if any UHH could improve on my attempt. Maybe it is just a poor photo in the first place and the color isn't there, due to the bird being in the shadows. Lesson learned is to shoot cute pictures in the sun light. If you are able to improve the picture, for my learning purposes, can you share with me the settings that you tweaked... more highlight, less of this, etc.
The RAW version is 28 mg, so for you to download it, I've put it on my Nikon Image Space. You can download via this link … http://img.gg/tzfv9zk
Thanks,
Ev
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep c... (show quote)


In my opinion, you need to darken the background with a solid color like black. Right now, the colors in the background are too similar to the colors of the chick to make the chick "pop". You may also want to add a little contrast to deepen the colors of the chick. As for lightroom, you can get it, along with photoshop, for $10.00 per month, not a huge expense and a great deal.

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Oct 22, 2018 17:25:01   #
ElderJames
 
An immediate response is that photography is about light. Your picture, while quite cute, has your bird in shadow and the background extremely bright--just the opposite of what it should be. A suggestion would be to brighten the chick as much as you need to in order to get the color in the feathers that you want, forgetting the background for a while. If that does not work, if you cannot even get the vibrance you want without worrying about the background, then you need to take another picture with better exposure. But if you are able to get what you want on the chick this way, then work on blurring and toning down the background. I use Photoshop, so I don't know what tools are available to you in After Shot, but this suggestion lets you experiment to see if the quality is there.
Here is a quick and crude example from your file:

Quick and crude PSRaw Chick Pic
Attached file:
(Download)

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Oct 22, 2018 17:31:35   #
Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN
 
Sorry. I couldn’t take your photo into Photoshop if that’s what you were trying to do. But your problem is working with the light

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Oct 22, 2018 17:33:06   #
Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.
 
ElderJames wrote:
An immediate response is that photography is about light. Your picture, while quite cute, has your bird in shadow and the background extremely bright--just the opposite of what it should be. A suggestion would be to brighten the chick as much as you need to in order to get the color in the feathers that you want, forgetting the background for a while. If that does not work, if you cannot even get the vibrance you want without worrying about the background, then you need to take another picture with better exposure. But if you are able to get what you want on the chick this way, then work on blurring and toning down the background. I use Photoshop, so I don't know what tools are available to you in After Shot, but this suggestion lets you experiment to see if the quality is there.
An immediate response is that photography is about... (show quote)


I think the problem is the background is almost the same color as the chick.I played around with Topaz filters,maybe a little better,not sure.


(Download)

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Oct 22, 2018 17:34:13   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Corn pops.

As for pictures, I'm not sure as to what you are referring, unless you are hung up on some B.S. jargon.

This photograph lacks contrast. Some things could be done to it, but I'll have to wait until I'm back in my photo lab to give it a try. This post will help me find this subject again.
--Bob

EvKar wrote:
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep coming up short of what I envision as a sharp and brilliant picture.. a picture that Pops. What seems easy for the majority of the UHH members, is still beyond my grasp... a picture that Pops.
So I have been practicing on this cute picture of one of our chicks; knowing the brilliant colors in the the individual feathers, I thought it would be an accomplishment if I could get this picture to reflect the beauty.
The picture you see is PP as far as I can take it... I think. I do confess, I use "After Shot Pro 3", which seems to be not so popular within this forum, but it is affordable and I think has the same features as Lightroom. Same features, but maybe not the same standards for quality? I'd love to have Lightroom and Photoshop, but all the hobbies that I desire require some prioritization of funds. And if After Shot can't do the job, maybe I will be forced to use something better.
Anyway, was wondering if any UHH could improve on my attempt. Maybe it is just a poor photo in the first place and the color isn't there, due to the bird being in the shadows. Lesson learned is to shoot cute pictures in the sun light. If you are able to improve the picture, for my learning purposes, can you share with me the settings that you tweaked... more highlight, less of this, etc.
The RAW version is 28 mg, so for you to download it, I've put it on my Nikon Image Space. You can download via this link … http://img.gg/tzfv9zk
Thanks,
Ev
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep c... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Oct 22, 2018 17:34:20   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
You need to light up your subject rather than rely on Post Processing to fix it. A simple white poster board reflecting some of that Sunlight back at the chick would do wonders for this photo...or a little fill flash.
EvKar wrote:
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep coming up short of what I envision as a sharp and brilliant picture.. a picture that Pops. What seems easy for the majority of the UHH members, is still beyond my grasp... a picture that Pops.
So I have been practicing on this cute picture of one of our chicks; knowing the brilliant colors in the the individual feathers, I thought it would be an accomplishment if I could get this picture to reflect the beauty.
The picture you see is PP as far as I can take it... I think. I do confess, I use "After Shot Pro 3", which seems to be not so popular within this forum, but it is affordable and I think has the same features as Lightroom. Same features, but maybe not the same standards for quality? I'd love to have Lightroom and Photoshop, but all the hobbies that I desire require some prioritization of funds. And if After Shot can't do the job, maybe I will be forced to use something better.
Anyway, was wondering if any UHH could improve on my attempt. Maybe it is just a poor photo in the first place and the color isn't there, due to the bird being in the shadows. Lesson learned is to shoot cute pictures in the sun light. If you are able to improve the picture, for my learning purposes, can you share with me the settings that you tweaked... more highlight, less of this, etc.
The RAW version is 28 mg, so for you to download it, I've put it on my Nikon Image Space. You can download via this link … http://img.gg/tzfv9zk
Thanks,
Ev
UHH, As I attempt to learn more about PP, I keep c... (show quote)

Reply
Oct 22, 2018 17:38:20   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
"Light" lesson learned for sure, along with tonal and color contrasts and busy backgrounds. And you had to crop away a huge portion of the image to get this close-up!

The suggestion for fill flash is a great one for next time. In the meantime...do you have a raw editor that came with the camera? Or maybe it's available for download free from Nikon?

Using my own raw editor on your NEF file, I evened out the exposure by lowering contrast, highlights and whites; and then raised blacks and overall exposure a little. In PS Elements I selectively brightened and sharpened the chick, plus added a bit more saturation. I did a combo clone/blur to the background and darkened it a little more. Then, after posting here, I went back and did more, lol. I added a "sunlight" filter from Nik Color Efex, a slight vignette, and more adjusting of levels (whiter whites, darker midtones).

As you can see, I did a poor clone job around the chick's head. Feathers are a pain in the you-know-where! Also, I should have done any cloning prior to cropping, so I'd have more "material" to work with.

But, first try adjustments in a raw editor that will lessen the extremes of the light, then selective edits in your main editor for saturation, brightening and sharpening just the chick.


(Download)

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Oct 22, 2018 18:06:28   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
ElderJames wrote:
Here is a quick and crude example from your file:
I converted your psd file to jpg (no edits of my own to this )



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Oct 22, 2018 19:11:15   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Just for fun: using the psd file that ElderJames uploaded, I desaturated the background, then inserted another. I know there are videos on how to do a better mask on edge feathers (and fur), but I would never have the patience



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Oct 23, 2018 09:11:58   #
SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Just for fun: using the psd file that ElderJames uploaded, I desaturated the background, then inserted another. I know there are videos on how to do a better mask on edge feathers (and fur), but I would never have the patience


Linda - you do such a terrific job - I love this version of the image!

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Oct 23, 2018 09:20:55   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 

--Bob
Linda From Maine wrote:
Just for fun: using the psd file that ElderJames uploaded, I desaturated the background, then inserted another. I know there are videos on how to do a better mask on edge feathers (and fur), but I would never have the patience

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Oct 23, 2018 09:23:29   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
SueScott wrote:
Linda - you do such a terrific job - I love this version of the image!

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Oct 23, 2018 10:04:40   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
Linda - you would make a great "post processing" teacher!

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