This is a Purple aka Gray-headed Swamphen. There is very little going this time of year in South Florida but I’ve still been going out to get what I can get. This morning I caught this Swamphen flying towards me. They are difficult to get in flight as they spend most of the time walking around the vegetation, so there was a lot of luck here. I cropped, did noise reduction with Topaz (which I like better than Lightroom’s upgraded noise reduction method), applied NIK’s Tonal Contrast and added a custom vignette. I was distracted by the very out of focus leaf in front of the bird and used the new AI feature in Photoshop to select and remove it. It did an amazing job reconstruction the parts of the leaves behind the one I was removing. Sony a1, 400mm f/2.8, 1/2500 second, ISO 1600.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 6 comments posted
Pamela Hoaglund
Such beautiful colors in a bird called a swamphen. To me you captured the action at just the right moment. Wings up, feet down and it makes me wonder where she is going to land. Sharp with nice catch light in the eye. I'm at a toss up as to whether the single purple flower on the right should be removed. It is the same color as the colors in the bird and maybe it just adds a little balance. Photoshop does have a great tool to take out distractions and rebuild the background. I have no suggestions for improvement. I'm glad you were so lucky. Posted: 11/12/2023 15:16:18
Judith Lesnaw
Touchdown! The colors are terrific, and blend so well with the background. The long claws are so delicate--for claws. I especially like the repetition of violet in the flower on the right, the claws, and the bird's back. The soft background bokeh is very pleasing. What is the name of the new AI tool you used? It did indeed do a great job of removing that leaf. I would not change a thing. Posted: 11/14/2023 15:47:45
Mike Cohen
Thanks Judith. It's the generative AI that was added to Photoshop recently. It's pretty amazing. I made a loose selection around the out of focus leave and didn't provide any prompts. When you do that it deletes what was selected and replaces what it thinks should go there. Posted: 11/14/2023 17:20:19
Sharon Prislipsky
I don't think you should remove the purple flower - I suggest cloning it and putting another one on the left for balance. I think the background is lovely - the lens falloff looks perfect to me and the bird (I would expect no less from you) is tack sharp. Apart from teh flower I would not change a thing, Posted: 11/16/2023 09:50:34
Mike Cohen
Great idea Sharon. Thanks
Congrats to you and Ann on the Showcase!
Mike
Posted: 11/17/2023 02:46:00
Ann Brixey
I really like this Purple Gallinule. I missed a similar shot at LaChua a while ago. I actually like the purple flower and feel that adding another would detract rather than enhance the image. I cannot find anything that needs to be edited. Great image. Posted: 11/29/2023 15:36:13
