I recently posted this Roseate shot on social media with the description below. I have some thoughts about how I might have processed this one a bit better and am interested in the group’s comments. In Lightroom I flipped, cropped and made a selection of the bird and the background. I dodged and worked on the highlights of the bird as well as saturating its color a bit. Usually with roseates I desaturate their color, as it comes across so strong that it looks fake. But I believe this one does not yet have its breeding plumage or is a juvenile. I darkened and added some negative texture and dehaze on the background. In Photoshop I added a dark curve and then selectively masked it out of the bird, gradually fading the effect away from the center. I also ran Topaz denoise to start with.
On my recent wander around central Florida, I saw quite a few Roseate Spoonbills. They are difficult to shoot by the road and were very much intolerant of my stopping. A few times, however, they tolerated my slow approach, and I was able to get some shots. This one, in fact, joined the group I was watching and gave me his full landing to photograph. (Platalea ajaja) (Sony a1, 200-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 second, ISO 2000)
6 comments posted
Judith Lesnaw
I love the fanned wings of this bird. The crop seems tight and the bird looks off-balance to me, as though he will fall over backwards. I Like the original with the two birds at the left. Here the Spoonbill appears to be coming in to join a party, and he does not look off-balance. I also prefer the lighter background. I would crop a bit from the right, but leave the top of the grasses for context. Of course one can see more detail in the Spoonbill in the tight crop, but I believe both versions have merit. Posted: 11/02/2024 17:00:24
Mike Cohen
I think your interpretation would look nice. Maybe because I saw the landing it's hard for me not to see it in a still shot so he doesn't look off balance to my eye. But I get your point. I think, after considering your comment, that I did over darken the background. Thanks Posted: 11/02/2024 19:09:37
Ally Green
The motion you have caputured of this bird is wonderful The texture and sharpness draws me in and agree its a perfect still shot. I am a bit of a purist so I prefer the color of the original…to me this looks a bit overprocessed colourwise. I too prefer also the lighter background. Great image though. Posted: 11/03/2024 22:07:10
Sharon Prislipsky
I love the wing positon of the bird and the fact that its landing pattern created the diagonal line...I feel this is strong composition. To me, there appears to be a slight yellow color cast. I would either try to fix that by tweaking the white balance or use the Remove Color Cast filter in Color Efex. Nice capture - as always. Posted: 11/09/2024 21:15:26
Polly Krauter
The bird is very well captured and I like the crop and flipped image. The fan of the primary feathers is lovely. You might consider removing the slightly muddy cast of the background. The original image has a brighter, cleaner appearance. Posted: 11/10/2024 00:31:23
Pamela Hoaglund
A great action shot. The position of the bird doesn't bother me as it is apparent the bird is coming in for a landing and the background is straight. I don't believe I have ever seen a Spoonbill let alone photograph one so I have no idea what the coloring should be. I agree that the background is a little too dark and refer the lighter background of the original image. Well done. Posted: 11/17/2024 22:25:34
