Mute Swan?

Gallery: AvianPosted May 8, 2012151 views13 comments

Swan taken in a local pond in Crystal River, Florida

1/3200 at f6.3 and ISO 400 EC -2
Canon 500mm
Canon 7D

Book identification as I have no real experience with this species. Photography difficulties include a brilliant white back with a much dimmer whitish neck.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 8, 2012 at 3:08 PM

Hi Scott: This is an image that looks like it has some really cool potential. The stark contrast of the black background with the white swan provides a great opportunity. As presented, it is very dark. If you open in Photoshop (don't know if this is the software you use), create a curves adjustment layer. Double click the white eyedropper. This will open the color picker to set a default value for the white eyedropper. The default values are 255,255,255. I've set mine to 242, 242, 242 (or 95% brightness). Click OK and Photoshop will ask about setting this as the default values for your white eyedropper. Select yes. Now just click on the whitest part of the back on the swan and this image absolutely comes to life. You can also set defaults for the black eyedropper in the same way described above. I have mine set to 5% brightness (13,13,13). Click just about anywhere in your black background to set the black point.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on May 8, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Love the mood here. A bit too underexposed for me.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 8, 2012 at 8:19 PM

Dark, moody, stunning.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 8, 2012 at 9:41 PM

I too see the potential in this image Scott. Work with it as Keith has mentioned and it will be a real keeper IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 9, 2012 at 12:24 AM

Scott, I agree that this has the potential to be stunning. I hope you're able to work with it and do a repost. I think it will be amazing.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on May 9, 2012 at 3:25 AM

Thanks for the suggestion Keith -- here is a repost after making your uggestions

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 9, 2012 at 8:36 PM

Scott. The repost looks great. Nicely done. Glad my suggestions made sense.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 9, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Really like the moodiness. The repost works very well. Nice detail in that loose feather.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 10, 2012 at 1:05 AM

Good in both versions; the first for the mood, the second for the detail. Well done.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 10, 2012 at 6:50 AM

Repost is gorgeous. Really, really well done.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 11, 2012 at 3:31 PM

Hello Scott

This original Image is Very Powerful ... But with some Fine Tuning can be SUPERB!!!

I think the Repost is Very good, But In my opinion I think the Mood has Changed ... I like the repost but think a little too much adjustments have hardened the Image away from that Beautiful, Mysterious Mood !!

Thanks for Sharing

Bill :)

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 11, 2012 at 5:36 PM

Scott I really like this image alot. I feel a little lightening of the bird would really help bring it to life.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on May 12, 2012 at 7:46 PM

Nice job on the repost. I've learned something too.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments