A few years ago, while in the Punta Gorda area of Florida, a friend escorted me to a location where a pair of Bald Eagles were nesting. I spent considerable time there as I wanted to try to get both birds in the same shot. This is what I came home with and while it accomplishes the mission, I find it difficult to determine what more needs to be done with the image. I'm looking for ideas. Thanks in advance.
I think I would try and clone out that vertical limb on the right as well as some of the other limbs in the top of the tree so it's not so busy. Then you could duplicate the layer and make a mask of the flying eagle then make it a little larger and closer to the nest. If you leave the horizontal limb at the bottom right that would frame the flying eagle with lines leading to to the nest. Just my thoughts.
I like it the way it is but might try cropping out some of the top. It might pull the viewers eye down to the imaginary line connecting the two birds.
kenievans wrote:
I think I would try and clone out that vertical limb on the right as well as some of the other limbs in the top of the tree so it's not so busy. Then you could duplicate the layer and make a mask of the flying eagle then make it a little larger and closer to the nest. If you leave the horizontal limb at the bottom right that would frame the flying eagle with lines leading to to the nest. Just my thoughts.
Good ideas, Keni. Lots of work in that, but it's kind of a special image for me and I would be willing to do the work. Thanks for that idea.
bsprague wrote:
I like it the way it is but might try cropping out some of the top. It might pull the viewers eye down to the imaginary line connecting the two birds.
Thanks, Bill. I'll certainly work with that idea.
It is a very sharp capture and worth any work that would make it more acceptable to you.
Move the eagle till it's in the gap just above the right hand side of the nest. Then you would be able to crop down a little to emphasise the birds which aren't large in the frame.
I love it as-is! The chaotic tangle of trees surrounding the nest, the flying eagle just about to leave the frame, their calling to each other (they always sounded like seagulls to me), and photographed in what appears to be quite windy conditions - all combine to be very dynamic and interesting to me.
I followed a bald eagle nest for five summers, so it could be I'm influenced by having been there/done that with the more "normal" perspectives and the fact that eagles are so common (here)
R.G. wrote:
Move the eagle till it's in the gap just above the right hand side of the nest. Then you would be able to crop down a little to emphasise the birds which aren't large in the frame.
I like this idea, R.G. I'm wanting to use layer masks to accomplish earlier suggestions, but I'm realizing I don't know how to do that!! :-/ I'll work with your idea. Thanks much!!
Linda From Maine wrote:
I love it as-is! The chaotic tangle of trees surrounding the nest, the flying eagle just about to leave the frame, their calling to each other (they always sounded like seagulls to me), and photographed in what appears to be quite windy conditions - all combine to be very dynamic and interesting to me.
I followed a bald eagle nest for five summers, so it could be I'm influenced by having been there/done that with the more "normal" perspectives and the fact that eagles are so common (here)
I love it as-is! The chaotic tangle of trees surro... (
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Yes, it was windy that day and they were screaming at each other!! I appreciate your perspective and perhaps should leave well enough alone. :-) This nest had a camera mounted on the tree above it (I cloned it away) and I followed the pair when we got back to KY until the eaglets left the nest. It's just a special image for me.
It's obvious you can do no changes or many changes to this photo and that would make another photo of its own . Opening it up with the download made it too big to see all the photo at once . So I downloaded it and opened it with a photo viewer which showed the entire photo in a much larger size on my 27 " monitor then the photo UHH posted. It allowed me to get a better feel of the subject matter . After seeing it larger , I agree with Linda , it looks pretty good the way it is . But that doesn't mean you can't keep the original like it is and make changes to make another photo or two or three like if you would have taken more photos of the scene . If I were to print a large print to frame , I would use the whole photo , it wouldn't look so busy if the photo was of a larger size and details would be more noticeable and to me still tell a good story within . Just another opinion , after all , it's in the eyes of the beholder . After viewing on my computer , I deleted the photo since it is not mine to keep . Tommy
I would leave it as is. The tree limbs form a nice window to frame the flying eagle.
kubota king wrote:
It's obvious you can do no changes or many changes to this photo and that would make another photo of its own . Opening it up with the download made it too big to see all the photo at once . So I downloaded it and opened it with a photo viewer which showed the entire photo in a much larger size on my 27 " monitor then the photo UHH posted. It allowed me to get a better feel of the subject matter . After seeing it larger , I agree with Linda , it looks pretty good the way it is . But that doesn't mean you can't keep the original like it is and make changes to make another photo or two or three like if you would have taken more photos of the scene . If I were to print a large print to frame , I would use the whole photo , it wouldn't look so busy if the photo was of a larger size and details would be more noticeable and to me still tell a good story within . Just another opinion , after all , it's in the eyes of the beholder . After viewing on my computer , I deleted the photo since it is not mine to keep . Tommy
It's obvious you can do no changes or many changes... (
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Thanks, Tommy. I appreciate your insight. Valid advice.
Guyserman wrote:
I would leave it as is. The tree limbs form a nice window to frame the flying eagle.
I've fretted over this image a long time, and I'm at the point that I think you are correct. I appreciate your taking a look. Thank you.
You've received some very interesting ideas Bruce. The only additional thought I had was a free hand vignette drawn with the lasso tool, inverted, feathered maybe between 300-400 pixels, and painted in at about 12% or less due to blending with the light clouds on the right, (might even have to mask out some to keep it subtle in the cloud area). I'm not sure it would even make that much difference, but it's another idea.
The age of Photoshop has given us so many options we have to stand back and really analyze what story we want to tell with our image. You've indicated this is a special image to you, I hope you end up using whatever options keep it special. Bev
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