WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

The subject Eagle in this composite is my favorite Eagle image so far. The bird had allowed us to drift in very close and, for me, everything seemed to come together.
Its background was open clear blue sky and not very interesting, so I went looking for a background that might make the image a bit more inviting.

All in all the two images have been worked over a good bit in my attempt to make it all look as natural as I could.

Your thought would be very much appreciated.

btw this is my first submission to this group. I'm still very green in PS, sorta stumbling my way up the learning hill.

Thanks
Bill

(Download)

bleirer

You did a good job with the mask!

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thank you Bleirer. Third or fourth I think

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

great job with the details on the eagle

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I would say you have a great start up that Photoshop learing hill! Nice edit. One of the hardest things to do when doing composites is to color match the the things being brought into the scene. You did a great job with the color. My only suggestion and it's only a subjective one, is I would have given a little more room at the top for the upper wing. Again, nice job.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

I like that you didn't composite a sharp background. This keeps attention on the eagle and looks natural for a bird shot. (My uneducated opinion.)

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Very nicely done Bill - great image!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I agree with Guyserman on the background, something I all too often forget. The work on the eagle is among the best I've seen. Overall its really great

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thanks Kubota King

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thanks FStop12,
I think your correct, the original image is like that and I need to learn how to add some to my image height. I know its doable but I have not learned that process yet. Next time around. :)

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thanks Guyserman.
Your 100% correct. The first time I attempted this composite I used the same background but it was a sharp, sorta, landscape image of the same marsh and trees.
After completing the first version I thought the trees were much too distracting so I did it a second time with a very modified base layer. That is this one.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thanks very much Yssirk

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Very high praise Curmudgeon, Thanks very much.
You and Guyserman are both spot on about the background. Version 1 had a sharp background and it competed with the Eagle.
After reviewing V1 I decided to do it again and attempt to make it look like I think it would naturally look shot from my camera and lens combo.

Before importing the background layer from LR to PS for v2 I applied a graduated filter with Sharpening and Contrast reduced from the top with 100% above the lower edge of the tree line and a gradual reduction across the marsh grass. Then I played with my sharpness and contrast sliders to adjust the "focus" down. I then used my brush tool to reduce contrast and saturation to selected parts of the tree line that seemed to attention attracting.
Then I sent it to PS where I applied a Blur modest layer to the trees only. Finally I made the background layer a bit larger in Freeform to make the trees look a bit further back.

I have all kinds of ideas now for new composite ideas.