Opinions on this picture please.

Beekeeper · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 06:20 PM

Would this be acceptable quality for the Gallery. or do i try again?

I am trying to improve the quality of my images and would value some honest comments.

Ollie · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 06:53 PM

I would have said it was acceptable for a Gallery image. Not a lot wrong with it at all.

I have taken the liberty of editing it myself. Hope you don't mind.

I have adjusted the shadows and highlights a little and added a touch of unsharp mask. Then I masked the woodpecker by drawing round it with the magnetic lasso tool and then inverted the selection so only the background was selected and then ran it through Neat image to get rid of the background noise and blur the background a touch more. This makes the Woodpecker stand out a bit more.

I could have done a better job with the original file but I think it's still a slight improvement.

All in all though I think your photo is very decent as it is.

agrumpycow · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 06:56 PM

Hi Beekeeper

Hop you don't mind I had a little play with you picture. It's a nice shot, I'm jealous you had such a clear view

but I think there need to be less background so the bird makes up more of the pic. I did this, resized it so there were more pixels and sharpened the image a bit. Here's what I came up with

edit: Ollie's is better!

Beekeeper · #4 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 07:08 PM

Thanks Ollie and agrumpycow for your replies and adjustments to the picture.

I am afraid i am not very creative and didn't bother to adjust it at all before i changed it from a Raw to a Jpeg, what you both have done is food for thought, i can see the difference between the pictures now and i have to say that both are an improvement on my original effort.

It did look a lot better as a Tif but it was around 17 gig in size so a bit over the top to upload to the forum.

Ian

Beekeeper · #5 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 08:52 PM

I have adjusted the original raw as you suggested Roger and am hoping that this latest offering is a bit better, i also adjusted the size down a bit so i could upload it as a very high quality Jpeg as opposed to what it was before, also cropped it a bit more as Claire suggested.

Ian

agrumpycow · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

I have adjusted the original raw as you suggested Roger and am hoping that this latest offering is a bit better, i also adjusted the size down a bit so i could upload it as a very high quality Jpeg as opposed to what it was before, also cropped it a bit more as Claire suggested.

Ian

I like this one much better, Ian. Once again, nice photo an I'm jealous you had such a clear view

Ollie · #7 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 10:50 AM

That looks good to me Ian. I don't think you would better it any further.

There is only so much you can do in editing. Editing will often turn a mediocre picture into a good one and a decent one into an excellent one but it won't turn a sows ear into a silk purse.

I'm not in any way suggesting this is a sows ear, far from it, it's a decent picture turned into an excellent one.

Well done in getting it as well as they aren't the easiest birds to photograph in terms of approachability and getting the exposure right with them being mainly black and white can be a bit of a job but you have handled it well.

Tracey.A · #8 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 11:43 AM

It's a pretty decent photo Beekeeper, but I must admit I really like the way Ollie has managed to improve it even more.

Tracey

Beekeeper · #9 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 06:45 PM

Thank you all for the kind and constructive comments, its really appreciated.

Claire ,Yes i was a bit lucky there, i have tried on numerous occasions to get a decent shot of this particular woodpecker and yesterday i had a chance thanks to the old post near to my house, i just set the camera up on the kitchen worktop and took the picture out of the open window using a 300 mm tele lens to get a close up, it would have been nice to get closer but the woodpecker was watching me and getting a bit agitated, thankfully he stayed still just long enough.

Roger, thanks for your excellent advice, I use Photoshop to tinker with pictures and have never tried the magnetic lasso tool before, its brilliant even with a slightly unsteady hand, i shall be using it again i am sure.

Tracy, thanks and yes i agree, Roger is obviously a bit of an expert with photography programs unlike me, i just fumble along but do eventually get the hang of all the bits and bobs.

Ian

eeyore · #10 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 07:01 PM

the other thing to bear in mind is that if you start with a huge file you can crop in a lot and still have an image 800x600 pix plus which is good enough for the Gallery. (that said i wouldnt crop as far as the one claire has posted above as thats beining to highlight background noise and look a bit soft.)

also being hyper critical it looks as though the white feathers are a bit burned out which could be a reason for rejection if there are already a lot of GSW pic in the Gallery

the only way to find out is to submit it - and ensure that you title it correctly as i recall the eds saying that incorrect titling is the single highest reason for rejection