Kathryn Delany, QPSA
September 2023 - Rufous Hummingbird and Plumbago
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
Metadate: ISO 500, 1/400s, F6.3, 400mm
Taken at 9:45 am - so the light was already getting a bit harsh. Therefore the background had some issues with very dark shadows against bright green leaves. So I added the layered background and frame.
I have given you two versions of the textured background, please post the final one as the main image.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Kathryn, another superb image and an excellent example of capturing flower and Hummingbird and combining with a background with no distractions. Posted: 09/06/2023 19:12:40
Thank you so much Bob. I appreciate your feedback. It's always fun to take it up a notch - or try to. . Posted: 09/07/2023 23:30:54
(Group 69)
This is a great photo. The bird is great. The detail quality is amazing. Looking at the photo I think all the editing you did helped fixed the background and focus the image. Well done. Posted: 09/13/2023 22:57:14
Thanks Jacob. I think it's still a WIP and will change as I progress. Looking at it now after some time away from it, I feel the flower is too bright and singular. So I will probably tone it down and maybe at more 'shadowy' flowers in the background too, and perhaps crop in tighter. Posted: 09/13/2023 23:30:16
Kathryn, a lovely image with the bird in flight heading towards the flower. You've done a great job in isolating the bird and flower from a busy background and the texture(s) chosen suits it very well. Posted: 09/15/2023 06:00:49
Thanks Nadia I appreciate your input Posted: 09/15/2023 08:30:56
Hi Kathryn,
A lovely composition of the hummingbird and the flower. The focus & details are with such clarity, which made this composition a remarkable one. The choice of the background is absolutely appropriate for the subjects. A surreal image to indulge with. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 09/17/2023 03:09:44
A lovely composition of the hummingbird and the flower. The focus & details are with such clarity, which made this composition a remarkable one. The choice of the background is absolutely appropriate for the subjects. A surreal image to indulge with. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 09/17/2023 03:09:44
Kamal, thank you very much Posted: 09/18/2023 09:57:46
Totally fabulous. How do you cut out the image so well that it does not look pasted on the background? Is this a background you made? If so, did you make it from scratch, or from an image? What is a good source for learning to make backgrounds? Posted: 09/18/2023 09:27:45
Doug, what a lovely and enthusiastic response, thank you. To answer your questions. Cutting out the background, I use masks - carefully. Sometimes it takes a long time to be sure you have a good mask. It also depends on the app you use. If you use Photoshop (desktop) its AI subject mask is pretty good.
I do almost all my creative work on my iPad. So I use Procreate and I this one I did in iColorama. The masking tool is pretty good in this app too.
I made the background - 3 images. I use my own textures which I have photographed or painted and blend them into the background using different blend modes- again either in Procreate and/or Procreate. This one started with a painted background, then a photo texture and finally a photo of bokeh I took. All are on separate layers with different blend modes and opacities.
Some sources for learning - Kathleen Clemons, Hazel Meredith is awesome. David Duchens and Alan Shapiro. I am putting together a program to teach this stuff as well. It's still in the beginning stages. Also Jackie Kramer offers a year long course which features all these creators who share techniques and methods for creating artistic mixed media photos. Posted: 09/18/2023 10:10:44
I do almost all my creative work on my iPad. So I use Procreate and I this one I did in iColorama. The masking tool is pretty good in this app too.
I made the background - 3 images. I use my own textures which I have photographed or painted and blend them into the background using different blend modes- again either in Procreate and/or Procreate. This one started with a painted background, then a photo texture and finally a photo of bokeh I took. All are on separate layers with different blend modes and opacities.
Some sources for learning - Kathleen Clemons, Hazel Meredith is awesome. David Duchens and Alan Shapiro. I am putting together a program to teach this stuff as well. It's still in the beginning stages. Also Jackie Kramer offers a year long course which features all these creators who share techniques and methods for creating artistic mixed media photos. Posted: 09/18/2023 10:10:44
Kathryn, just love this. The double exposure works so well, especially with the hummer's wings. A layered background makes it what it is, a piece of art. All your work on the backgrounds has really paid off and the framing is makes it even better. Wonderful job. Posted: 09/18/2023 20:00:16