Posted by Helge Sorensen on September 22, 2006 at 3:34 AM
An American Bittern from a spring-trip to Cape May, New Jersey. The bird was hunting right in front of me for several hours, and was actually so busy hunting that it came too close to AF.
Photo is full size except for a little cropping from the sides for presentation effect. BG was very cluttered, so I experimented a bit with some Gaussian Blur. Does it work ?
I am not a fan of Gaussian blurred Bg's normally but here, at least at web size you seem to have done a fine job, and if you hadn't mentioned it I may not have noticed
I really like this and the tight crop works well, might loose just a fraction from the top, that is certainly a proud looking bird.
Posted by John Chapman on September 22, 2006 at 5:04 AM
Hi Helge
nice portrait of the Bird and the BG works for me. I will have to try that kind of BG. sometime.
John
Aberdeen
Posted by Dave Courtenay on September 22, 2006 at 6:15 AM
Nice portrait and good PS work
Posted by Graham Bailey on September 22, 2006 at 7:33 AM
lovely portrait and the background works fine for me - I wouldn't have known if you hadn't said.
Posted by David Kjaer on September 22, 2006 at 1:41 PM
Hi Helge
Nice portrait - I also like the BG and as Graham said 'I wouldn't have known if you hadn't said' good work in PS!
David
Posted by Alan Woolnough on September 22, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Cracking shot Helge,
Love the typical 'inquisitive' look of this bird, and well suited to the narrow crop.
Discussion
8 repliesPhoto is full size except for a little cropping from the sides for presentation effect. BG was very cluttered, so I experimented a bit with some Gaussian Blur. Does it work ?
20D + 500/4 + tc1.4; iso400, f8, 1/400
I am not a fan of Gaussian blurred Bg's normally but here, at least at web size you seem to have done a fine job, and if you hadn't mentioned it I may not have noticed
I really like this and the tight crop works well, might loose just a fraction from the top, that is certainly a proud looking bird.
nice portrait of the Bird and the BG works for me. I will have to try that kind of BG. sometime.
John
Aberdeen
Nice portrait - I also like the BG and as Graham said 'I wouldn't have known if you hadn't said' good work in PS!
David
Love the typical 'inquisitive' look of this bird, and well suited to the narrow crop.
Alan
A very elegant portrait of a very elegant looking species.
Terry