Piers Blackett
March 2023 - Gentle Giant
Original
About the Image(s)
The Oklahoma Clydesdales, originally imported form Scotland, live at a famous ranch called Express Clydesdales where they train for events throughout the year. I went there for a tour. Shown in the photo is a young horse being gently handled.
Canon R5, RF 24-105
F/7.1, 1/125, ISO 2000
I denoised with DxO Pure Raw and processed in CR using tonal adjustments and a mask for decreasing background exposure. I used a brush to increase exposure and de-shadow for the horse's eye and neck. After cropping, I straightened slightly and used both vertical and horizontal geometric correction.
14 comments posted
A beautiful specimen! Amazing they don't trip over their feet. I like the stance you caught him in with the different angles of his legs and feet--looks like he is doing a dance. And the concentration of the young woman! Perhaps you could crop to each side of the door and a little off the top to eliminate the garage door appearance and tone down the light coming through the window. Fun shot! Posted: 03/02/2023 13:51:13
Thanks. I agree the backlighting is a problem and have tried some cloning and more darkening. Also the stable handlers take pride in the hair around the horse's hoofs what they call the "feather". To bring this out I have cloned and brightened slightly. Posted: 03/02/2023 15:25:19
Yes, I like this crop better! Posted: 03/02/2023 15:43:14
(Group 42)
A nice image of the Clydesdale and the handler, but would crop some off the top and sides. Posted: 03/05/2023 10:56:08
Thanks Stuart. I also took out the windows in the image I sent earlier in response to Shirley. I should have asked the handler to move to a front-lighted position. Maybe next time. Posted: 03/05/2023 13:42:23
love the crop you made, Piers. No windows really makes the image seems to be floating in time. Look at those feet....beautiful! Posted: 03/07/2023 12:45:50
This is a good photo of a wonderful subject. I like your treatment in removing the windows. Maybe this image could be the subject of a rural drop in background. Just a thought! Posted: 03/08/2023 15:52:33
Good idea! I found some background typical of the region and used Skylum to replace the upper portion because the replacement stopped there. I then cloned to make a barrier but not ideal. Posted: 03/08/2023 20:59:00
That looks great. Can you stretch the background down to floor level? Posted: 03/09/2023 00:01:28
maybe go to the full extreme! Posted: 03/09/2023 00:50:12
Great! I need to try that. ? Photoshop. Posted: 03/09/2023 08:33:57
Yes photoshop and a stock photo of an English countryside from Google. Posted: 03/09/2023 15:45:59
Piers,
I'm laughing and smiling after (finally) reading all the others comments and suggestions.
Like the others, I also thought the "garage" atmosphere detracted from the beautiful Clydesdale. I have to admit, the garage atmosphere does tell a story, but without straw on the ground or anything wooden, it's just a garage.
Deleting the window lights on the door helped, but then things progressed to a completely different level than you started out with. You have to decide which way you want to go with the image. Posted: 03/12/2023 19:17:24
I'm laughing and smiling after (finally) reading all the others comments and suggestions.
Like the others, I also thought the "garage" atmosphere detracted from the beautiful Clydesdale. I have to admit, the garage atmosphere does tell a story, but without straw on the ground or anything wooden, it's just a garage.
Deleting the window lights on the door helped, but then things progressed to a completely different level than you started out with. You have to decide which way you want to go with the image. Posted: 03/12/2023 19:17:24
Yes, although pleasing English countryside does credit to the picture I am challenged to go back and try again. Perhaps in the summer when they don't have blue coats on. I think this horse likes the attention. Posted: 03/13/2023 11:01:14