About the Image(s)
Sorry, glitch trying to load Pei-Fan's images, and they wound up in my images, removing all my descriptions. Thanks to Robert for catching it.
Trying again--
Canon R5 Canon 2000-800mm
ISO 1250 800mm f/9.0 1/2000 sec
On November 29, we drove 3.5 hours to the Everglades' Shark Valley. Very disappointing and super hot. Absolutely nothing there, as it was badly overgrown with invasive spadderdock (a type of lilypad that chokes the flowing water of the Everglades).
On the drive home on Alligator Alley (a long road with nothing but alligators), we pulled off every mile or so and hopped out and went to the creek that runs along most roads in Florida. We found all sorts of birds and plenty of monster alligators. The trick was getting out of the car without shutting the door, as all the birds would get scared and take flight.
We pulled over a couple of dozen times. This is a pic of a green heron, they are about six inches tall and when it stretches its neck is about 15 inches tall. Green herons are usually very low to the water, on a horizontal branch and very hidden, as they are very shy. Most images are of them buried in the branches.
We must have spooked this one, as it jumped from its low fishing perch into this Brazilian pepper. I knew right away it would be the print for my Christmas card (and it was).
I cropped and made it a vertical for printing as a Christmas card, I brightened the berries and darkened the leaves and the bird poop.
I'd like to enter it in PSA Nature, so I can remove things.
Any suggestions? Thanks so much and Happy 2025 in the best Digital Dialogue Group!
Robert Schleif
That's pretty amazing editing--from what looks like a ribbon dancer to what looks like a bird.
Seriously though, on my monitor the bright red berries distract from the bird. For some purposes, perhaps less bright? Posted: 01/02/2025 14:52:33
Brenda Fishbaugh
Hi Robert! I saw your Jan 2 message, but didn't understand what you were saying! Today, I figured it out--Pei-Fan's pic wound up on my page and my final image and explanation were replaced by Pei-Fan's info.
Please take a new look and let me know your thoughts! Thanks! Posted: 01/07/2025 16:10:37
Robert Schleif
Berries too bright. Posted: 01/07/2025 22:14:03
Brenda Fishbaugh
Thanks, Robert, I'll adjust that after the rest of the comments come in. Posted: 01/14/2025 22:03:09
Brenda Fishbaugh
I've taken your advice and please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:45:22
Pei-Fan Mu
I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. So
sorry.The future should be better.
Posted: 01/12/2025 10:58:01
Brenda Fishbaugh
Pei-Fan, no worries! Do you have any suggestions for my image? Posted: 01/14/2025 22:03:46
Sunil Mehta
I've always admired your bird and nature photography-this shot is beautifully captured! Regarding post-processing, I feel that flipping the photo doesn't add much to the final result, and the colors seem a bit oversaturated. A simple crop with a slight boost in saturation might enhance the image more naturally. Posted: 01/12/2025 03:56:39
Brenda Fishbaugh
Thanks, Sunil! I flipped for a specific purpose of a Christmas card being opened. Now that I don't need the image to be facing that way, I can go back to the original. I'll drop some of the saturation after all comments are in. Posted: 01/14/2025 22:05:43
Brenda Fishbaugh
I've taken your advice on too much saturation--please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:46:07
Ed Ogle
I like the color combinations and the way your cropped it. I think the bright berries are a little distracting. I'm not sure you can flip the image like this and still enter it in PSA nature. Posted: 01/14/2025 20:58:26
Brenda Fishbaugh
Thanks, Ed! I'll desaturate the berries and any other changes suggested when all the comments come in. You can flip the entire image in PSA Nature, but no need for a flip going forward, as I did it just to face the opening on my Christmas card. I appreciate it! Posted: 01/14/2025 22:08:12
Brenda Fishbaugh
I've taken your advice for the oversaturation--and please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:46:40
Jean Wu
I always admire folks having the passion, patience, and physical energy (to carry all the gears) in bird watching and photography. The bird is beautiful but the background added too much distractions. I would blur most of the background except the foreground surrounding the bird. Posted: 01/15/2025 23:23:25
Brenda Fishbaugh
Thanks so much, Jean, and welcome!
I compete in PSA Nature, so blurring the background is expressly forbidden. Yep, nature does have distracting backgrounds, expecially in Florida with our lush jungles!
Posted: 01/19/2025 03:31:51
Brenda Fishbaugh
Jean, Please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:47:07
Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)My comments would be similar to the majority. So sorry that you were so close to us and didn't touch base. Posted: 01/16/2025 16:17:08
Brenda Fishbaugh
Hi Bev! Nice to hear from you! It would be fun to see you sometime! With five hours driving and five hours in the parks, it makes for a long day! Posted: 01/19/2025 03:32:57
Brenda Fishbaugh
I've taken your advice and please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:47:21
Pei-Fan Mu
I also enjoy the bird's photo, is it possible if we use F4.0 instead of f/9.0, the bird's background may be blurred. The bird will be more obvious. It is a nice work. Posted: 01/19/2025 04:44:57
Brenda Fishbaugh
The problem with birds is that we are shooting at 800mm, so f/9.0 is the very lowest F/stop available. There is an f/4 lens with some length, but it is $20,000 USD and is much too heavy for an old woman.
In PSA Nature competition rules, we can not blur the background, as it must look like it did. If I enter it in PSA Color, I can blur the background, but since the bird is basically sitting in the background, I think it would look strange.
I'll try it, thanks for the suggestions. Posted: 01/21/2025 15:17:31
Brenda Fishbaugh
Please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! I can't wait to see your final re-worked version of your dancer! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:48:02
Brenda Fishbaugh
Please check my reworked version below. Too dull now? Thanks for your final thoughts! I can't wait to see your final re-worked version of your dancer! Posted: 01/21/2025 19:48:44
Brenda Fishbaugh
Thanks for all the suggestions! The overall suggestion was that the pic looked too bright and over-saturated, especially the berries. My processing was meant for our Christmas card, so the bright red berries accented the red berries and the green-ish bird (Christmas colors).
With Christmas over, I've put the image back the direction it was photographed, and I've started over with the original crop and kept everything more realistic. I've darkened the background somewhat (blurring and removal not allowed in PSA Nature rules, and vignetting not allowed).
It is just "a bird on a stick", so it may not have any chance for an acceptance in PSA Nature. More interaction places better--flight, fights, hatchlings, eating cool stuff.
Any other thoughts or comments? Thanks so much!
Posted: 01/21/2025 19:44:13
Jean Wu
Nice revision!! Posted: 01/21/2025 23:15:44
Brenda Fishbaugh
Do you think its too boring? Thanks for taking a look! Posted: 01/21/2025 23:37:41
Jo-Ann Rolle
I loved the original Brenda but the revision is more serene and calming. Both are outstanding capture and edits. I do think the revised image is more natural. Posted: 01/22/2025 00:03:18
