I don't normally PP much

[PopsPhotos]

However, I thought I'd give you guys a try at this one. The light was terrible, and the camera was still on my usual sunset settings.

First, the original

Then, my shot at bringing it out.

Last, using the "Velvia" action I got from this site.


Have fun with them. I'll have another set to play with next week or so.

Pops

[Colin Southern]

Tough one without a RAW to work from, but here's my quick attempt ...

[Ashwin]

Tough one without a RAW to work from, but here's my quick attempt ...

PP is always helpful in such a situation....
Colin you have brought out all the hidden details, and clarity of the picture, still I think plate holding all this things needed noise reduction

[PopsPhotos]

Great Colin. Did you start with the original, or one of the ones I messed up?

Plus, WHAT DID YOU DO??? How do you expect me to learn if you don't give a little?

The base of the feeder tube is a little red. It is copper and slightly tarnished.

Pops

[Colin Southern]

Great Colin. Did you start with the original, or one of the ones I messed up?

Plus, WHAT DID YOU DO??? How do you expect me to learn if you don't give a little?

The base of the feeder tube is a little red. It is copper and slightly tarnished.

Pops

Hi Pops,

I started with your "original".

Workflow as follows ...

- Open in ACR, adjust for "best look" (a lot of fill light to reveal shadow detail, and a lot of highlight recovery to retain background highlight retail). Brightness tweaks to enhance midtones.

- Open in PS

- Apply HSB layer - desaturate everything, but mask so only applies to bright centre of feeder. Adjust opacity to suit.

- Repeat HSB layer (increase saturation), and mask to apply only to bird.

- Hand dodging (highlights over bird) and burning (shadows over bird). Burn rim of bowl to reveal edge.

No noise reduction - it would have improved it, but that was so far gone in that respect it's like putting a band aid on a gunshot wound

Was it shot RAW? Is the RAW available?

[ScoutR]

Pops: I like your first attemp the best so far. Here is my attempt using Lightroom.



Don't use this as an example workflow, basically I just play around until I like it
Crop
noise reduction 100% colour and Luminence
Sharpen
Adjust White balance
adjust Black point
Add fill light
increase Clarity and Contrast
Tone Curve: +highlights: +darks: +shadows
Local Sharpening and +brightness on bird
Then fool around with all of the above.

Oh yeah, and used spot removal tool to remove white spot top centre of feeder

[PopsPhotos]

I have to chuckle, ScoutR. I grabbed my camera to try to get some pictures of the falling snowflakes and got distracted by the birds as I went out the door. That spot you so carefully removed was a snowflake.

Colin, SheriLou brought to my attention that the bands on the wings of a Gold Finch are black.

I shoot in JPG, Fine, Large. I haven't played with RAW, yet, as I use film for that. You guys are sure twisting my arm, though.

Pops

[ScoutR]

That spot you so carefully removed was a snowflake.

LOL! I did the same thing to some of my own shots that I took the other day. I wanted to get the falling snow but found that the snowflakes just look like dust spots against the sky or anything else that's light so I removed them. The snow only showed up against the dark parts of the photo (makes sense ) which created kind of a weird localized weather effect.
I guess the lesson here is shoot snow against a dark background or use high shutter speed. I'll have lots of snow soon to practice on. Looks like right now all my Canadian snow went to Donald in Scotland.

Colin, SheriLou brought to my attention that the bands on the wings of a Gold Finch are black.

They look black on my screen, what colour are they on yours?

[PopsPhotos]

The wing bands in Colin's picture are blue on my screen. Of course, I'm on the laptop, so that might be it. However, this screen has always been spot on with the prints in the past.

Pops

[ScoutR]

Ahhh, yes, I see what you mean. My mistake. Your screen is fine.

[Dave Humphries]

Me thinks Wendy has learnt a lot in the last month or so, and here's the proof

Well done, post #6 gets my vote (sorry Colin)

Cheers,

[PopsPhotos]

What is interesting to me is that I don't see a picture in Wendy's post. ?????

Pops

[Ashwin]

The wing bands in Colin's picture are blue on my screen. Of course, I'm on the laptop, so that might be it. However, this screen has always been spot on with the prints in the past.

Pops

I also find the wing bands in colin's picture BLUE on my computer
screen

[ScoutR]

What is interesting to me is that I don't see a picture in Wendy's post. ?????

But... it must have been there Pops. You said I removed your snowflake.

However, I have been informed by another member that my pic was not showing up in another location. Not sure what the problem is? Anyone have any ideas. Let me know if you all see a pic in post #6

Thanks
Wendy

[ScoutR]

Thanks Dave, I've been hanging around here too much... Osmosis. Miles to go though.

By the way, are you working on that PP challenge thing? Just checking don't want you to forget.

Wendy

[Ashwin]

However, I have been informed by another member that my pic was not showing up in another location. Not sure what the problem is? Anyone have any ideas. Let me know if you all see a pic in post #6

Thanks
Wendy

No, I also dont see picture in post #6

[ScoutR]

No, I also dont see picture in post #6

Thanks Ashwin, I will have to check this out. Dave? any ideas. I've put them into the post from an album that I created here at the forum. Maybe I am doing something wrong, it showed up fine here, so I thought everything was working. I guess it's not though.

Wendy

[PopsPhotos]

I took your word for it, Wendy. Your text said you deleted it. I trust you.

Pops

[PopsPhotos]

Me thinks Wendy has learnt a lot in the last month or so, and here's the proof

Well done, post #6 gets my vote (sorry Colin)

Cheers,

Wendy, Dave's post implies he can see it. This is confusing. I don't see your post in the mini-competition, either.

Pops

[ScoutR]

I just looked through the instructions and tried loading it again. Could you do a refresh and see if it's there now. I didn't change anything, and it shows up here, but I'm not sure what's going on.

Wendy