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Heaven Sent
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Heaven Sent

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Photo ArtPosted December 10, 2011255 views10 comments
I went out and shot a piece of some Texas sky for this.
Liked this shot, but wanted to see what a change of background would look like, rather than the straight blue of the original.

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 11, 2011 at 2:29 PM
Beautiful job, Howard. The bird almost looks painted. Did you use any special processing? I think you did a great job on the background.

Nice posting.

Carol
Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Hi Carol & thank you for your kind words..
I just selected the bird from the clear BG with the magic wand. Then a very small amount pf feathering at the edges. Next I pulled up my shot of just sky, and simply copied & pasted it in. Its relative position in the original frame made it easy.
I actually made this for my Christmas E-card this year, using the space below for text.
Thanx again & Merry Christmas :wavey:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by David W. Kelly on December 12, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Very well done Howard and I love the image posted with the lettering which makes for a nice Christmas Greeting. :smile:
Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments
Comment posted by Barbara Graham on December 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM
I love the bird and I love the sky and I love them both together. Merry Christmas!
Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 12, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Lovely shot of the cardinal, with great detail. The compositing look great, but background seems to sharp for the size of the bird. I do like the Christmas card version. Merry Christmas to you also.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 12, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Here's the "lens blur" version Mark..I like it either way.
Wasn't really going for realistic, but a surreal look. Hey, it's descending from Heaven :smile:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 13, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Howard, I totally agree about the descending from heaven look. Had me immediately humming "It fell out of the sky, landed just a lilttle south of Moline.." from the 60's.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 13, 2011 at 6:02 PM
I do have to thank you Mark..It made me look at it again with a different set of eyes..
The more I looked at it with the lens blur, the more I liked it.
And it's now a much less obvious paste job to the average viewer.
Thanx again :wavey:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 17, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I like t and think the Christmas Card you sent was a great use for this shot Howard. BTW, Merry Christmas back at you!
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 20, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Howard, Love the email card and I like the image with the lens blur of the back ground the best. I also wanted to tell you I visited you website and you work is fantastic as well as the site. I really enjoyed my time reviewing it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments