Barbara Dunn
January 2021 - Nest Building
About the Image(s)
This photo was shot in 2017 in Florida. These two blue herons were busy helping each other build a nest for their babies.
Canon 7D Mark II; 309mm; 1/640 sec.; f/5.6; ISO 100
Steps to achieve image
1. Cropped
2. Converted to black and white, using Lightroom.
3. Brought down the shadows and blacks in Lightroom. I wanted to keep the faces of the birds, to show some detail.
4. Using Photoshop, selected the subject, used the inverse feature, and painted away distracting leaves and branches.
5. Used the clone and content aware for smaller areas that the above did not cover.
6. Removed noise, using Topaz DeNoise
7. Resized for PSA website
8. Sharpened.
6 comments posted
Barbara
I like the composition, story telling, and use of monochrome for this image. Converting the image to almost two tones creates an interesting visual effect and strong silhouette.
The branch cutting across the lower third of the image is slightly distracting. Would you consider removing it. Posted: 01/08/2021 21:02:51
I like the composition, story telling, and use of monochrome for this image. Converting the image to almost two tones creates an interesting visual effect and strong silhouette.
The branch cutting across the lower third of the image is slightly distracting. Would you consider removing it. Posted: 01/08/2021 21:02:51
Hi, Judith,
Thanks for your comments. I did remove the branch when processing the image, but did not like the look of it, so used the original version. Posted: 01/15/2021 09:21:58
Thanks for your comments. I did remove the branch when processing the image, but did not like the look of it, so used the original version. Posted: 01/15/2021 09:21:58
Unlike Judith I like the branches allow to make me think this a nature shot and not something from the style of Joe Timmer Posted: 01/09/2021 18:48:16
This is a good way to use a silhouette technique because it makes you focus on what is going on between the two mates as they expand their nest. The transfer of the piece of nest material would probably be lost if it was a standard photo. Posted: 01/10/2021 11:59:15
This works very well especially with the outline of the birds, where you can see the feathers as ragged and not a smooth line. I can live with both the original or Judith's edited version. Both have their merits and both work. Posted: 01/17/2021 04:49:53
Hi Barbara, great image, I like the total black or white with very little grey, I do have a preference for no branch across the middle as the birds are nicely framed by the remaining two, nice lighting showing the sticks of the nest, there is good definition of the feathers, eyes and beaks. Posted: 01/19/2021 01:13:59