bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Not infrequently, after I process an image, I look at the final product and ask myself, "Was it worth all the time I put into it?". This is one of those images. A Canada Goose taking a bath at Santee Lakes. This image has been manipulated extensively. I was using too much lens and the bird just barely fit into the frame. I did not need to to that as I was using a zoom lens (100-500 at 420mm), but I did. Also the background was very close so was in focus and very distracting. In post, I expanded the canvas on the bottom to give the goose a little more room. I cropped in a 16:9 aspect for a number of reasons, but primarily because this image will be displayed on my TV at home. The bird was brightened and the BG darkened selectively. Then I used Photoshop's background blur filter and blurred the BG. Was all of this worth it? Probably not, but it was done at that point. Shot with a Canon R5, SS 1/2500, ISO 5000, f/8.0, EC of 0.

(Download)

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Very Interesting affect with the water around the Gooses head

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Subjectively, did you enjoy doing it? If so, time not wasted. Some of my lesser shots have come when I was enjoying where I was more than I was concentrating on my camera(s).

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Well worth it.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

It seems to me you have answered your own question. In my opinion you are correct. It really wasn't worth it as far as the photograph goes but you did gain experience doing the post processing.

Dennis

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Single word answer: Yes

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Great job!

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

I like what you have done, it gives the viewer a sense of action and actually being there watching the bird. Well done.

Iechyd da

Ann

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

The pure joy of bathing