Changing Backgrounds
Nov 26, 2019 14:30:27 #
I'm certain many of you will cringe at my effort here. First because the end result is no longer natural and second because my masking work is still amateurish. With that stated, here's what I did. I have decent shots of both a male and female wood duck in flight (taken on separate days this year). I don't like the background on either shot so I changed them out with less busy and more interesting backgrounds. Then I thought, wouldn't it be nice if both birds were in the same frame. Attached below is the progression. Let me know your thoughts knowing full well many of you won't like it for the reasons stated above.
Nov 26, 2019 14:54:21 #
I've been using Photoshop since version one and I'm not cringing at your masking technique :-) Your final result is masterly and deserving of a fine metal print.
In my experience dropping a light background and replacing it with a dark background ( or vice versa) is tough and I see a halo around shot #4. I've had some good results with using selection/modify/grow and select inverse before using curves to fight the halo. Sometimes I use the dodge or burn tool along with this if the selection is on a varying background.
bravo!
In my experience dropping a light background and replacing it with a dark background ( or vice versa) is tough and I see a halo around shot #4. I've had some good results with using selection/modify/grow and select inverse before using curves to fight the halo. Sometimes I use the dodge or burn tool along with this if the selection is on a varying background.
bravo!
Nov 26, 2019 14:54:32 #
I like your idea, and you have executed it well. However, the composite sees to be out of balance. He is either landing or just taking off, while she is in full flight. Do you have any other good shots of either bird that might make a better balance?
Nov 26, 2019 15:00:51 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
I think all of them are great looking shots. I'd be proud to claim any of them. Especially given my almost non-existent editing prowess.
Nov 26, 2019 15:05:03 #
Thank you both. Appreciate the comments and suggestions. I agree with you mffox. I had a similar thought. I don't think I have a better female wood duck shot though.
tgreenhaw - I'm giving your suggestions some thought.
tgreenhaw - I'm giving your suggestions some thought.
Nov 26, 2019 15:08:36 #
That is a really well done set. I like the composite best and I noticed nothing out of sync about one duck landing while the second is on a 'fly by' is normal duck behavior. The PP is really great. If you want to play with these a little more try a motion blur background to give the impression you were panning the shot. 
Nov 26, 2019 15:20:39 #
I think it is quite good, nice job on the masking. I see a halo on the thumbnail but not when downloaded. Jpeg artifact I guess.
Nov 26, 2019 15:22:34 #
Excellent job. I really like the end result.
You might want to try to fade the blur you've applied so that right under the duck that's landing the water is sharper and then fades the further away it gets. But again, you did an excellent job post-processing.
Happy trails
You might want to try to fade the blur you've applied so that right under the duck that's landing the water is sharper and then fades the further away it gets. But again, you did an excellent job post-processing.
Happy trails
Nov 26, 2019 15:23:50 #
Beautiful work all around. You might want to use some burning, dodging, and saturating to create the same light on the male as on the female.
Nov 26, 2019 15:25:00 #
Nov 26, 2019 15:26:16 #
Nov 26, 2019 15:39:39 #
Do wood ducks fly as a pair in the real world, asks someone who knows nothing of wood ducks?
Nov 26, 2019 16:14:26 #
Nov 26, 2019 16:15:33 #
bleirer wrote:
Do wood ducks fly as a pair in the real world, asks someone who knows nothing of wood ducks?
To that question, the answer is "yes". The really hard thing to do (in my opinion) is to get them both in sharp focus. You're focusing on one bird or the other as they fly by so if both birds are in sharp focus it would be a very lucky shot .
Nov 26, 2019 16:33:54 #
Very well done.
When I can co what you have done I will consider myself capable with PS.
As for the ducks, one landing the hen still full flight.
I watch ducks, pairs, land and take off day after day. Nothing at all outbof sync for one to land and a second to keep flying, sometimes only a second or two more, sometime the second will just fly on and the one who landed will take off after it.
Theae are wild birds. They march to abdifferany drum. And wood ducks march fast.
When I can co what you have done I will consider myself capable with PS.
As for the ducks, one landing the hen still full flight.
I watch ducks, pairs, land and take off day after day. Nothing at all outbof sync for one to land and a second to keep flying, sometimes only a second or two more, sometime the second will just fly on and the one who landed will take off after it.
Theae are wild birds. They march to abdifferany drum. And wood ducks march fast.
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