Fly Higher!

Gallery: AvianPosted July 19, 2013144 views11 comments

This Goliath Heron was flying near to the water with a rather "uncomplimentary background" (similar colour). Taken on the shore of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Parek, Zimbabwe
EOS 1DX
500mm F4 MkII
F6.3
ISO 800
1/1250
Hand-held from drifting boat

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on July 19, 2013 at 7:59 AM

Wow, what an excellent in-flight shot. Well done, especially from a boat ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 19, 2013 at 9:38 AM

He does almost get lost in the BG in this Ken, but nothing you can do about where he flies and it doesn't bother me when viewing this. As a thought though...Did you try to tone down the brightness of the BG at all? That might help him to standout better. My only personal nit is it's a bit tight at the top. Not sure if you have the extra canvas or if this was full frame? BTW, nice job handholding tis from a boat.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on July 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Hi Ken:

Very cool flight shot. The position of the bird is great. The background does really compete with the bird. I took a crack at working the luminance and saturation of the background. If you'd like me to post the result, let me know and I'd be happy to.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 19, 2013 at 5:29 PM

That's some sweet light and detail Ken

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 19, 2013 at 10:39 PM

Detail and flight pose on the bird are wonderful and the light is great. I would love to see Keith's version with the bg less saturated. Nice image! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 20, 2013 at 12:32 AM

Thanks to every body for your kind comments and suggestions, this is not full frame so I had more room (my cropping is sometimes inexplicable

)
Keith,

Please feel free to post your version, with if possible an easily understood instruction of what you did, I am a very basic processor

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on July 20, 2013 at 8:34 AM

Hi Ken: Here's the version I processed. While I really liked the quality of the light in the version you posted, it did compete with the bird. I made a selection of the bird using the Quick Select Tool. I then refined that selection using Refine Edge. That created a marching ants selection. I then added a curves adjustment layer which had a layer mask from the bird selection. The mask needed be black on the bird and white on the background. I increased the brightness of the curve (and hence the background) a little. I then added a Hue/Saturation adjustment level. I copied the mask from the curve to the Hue/Sat layer. I decreased the saturation of the background just a little. This is the result.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on July 20, 2013 at 9:42 AM

Cool light and excellent flight shot. While the background does compete with the bird I still really like this shot.
May

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 21, 2013 at 1:09 AM

Keith,
Thanks very much for the repost a great improvement, now I have to try to understand your method

May,
Thanks for your comment

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on July 26, 2013 at 4:41 PM

Even with the "uncomplimentary background" (similar colour), the Heron pops out with great detail and color.

Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 28, 2013 at 12:50 AM

Peter,

Thanks very much

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments