The Making of "The Birds" - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

02/16/2011 12:40:49 PM · #1

A few people have asked how I made that dark, gloomy crow image, so here's a step-by-step for those who are interested. Note that this was a flyby shot, at a full 400mm, of a crow briefly visiting a tree by my driveway. I got two exposures only, then he was gone. They don't like having me around with a "gun", which is what the 400 looks like :-) I went out in the first place 'cuz there were like 100 of these things flocking and wheeling in that tree, so I grabbed the 5D, mounted the gun, and stepped out the front door.

Ill-advisedly, as it happens, since the whole freaking flock decamped instantly, except this one danged bird who was giving me the beady eye: then he left too.

So I had to deal with a fairly extreme crop, and an underexposed image to boot...

*************

Processing steps in each image's details box.

***************

Image as shot, and as processed in ACR:

Iterations of processing in CS3:

Image as submitted:

cynthiann

Nikon D810

02/16/2011 12:50:28 PM · #2

Wow. Thanks! Lots of info to absorb.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

02/16/2011 12:53:51 PM · #3

Congrats on your Blue ribbon. That is a very good extraction of the essence of the scene, with much attention paid to important details and good crop. The color temp change allowed just the right mood.

markwiley

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS

02/16/2011 12:56:22 PM · #4

Very, very cool. Thanks for detailing it. Lots to study.

KarenNfld

02/16/2011 01:03:32 PM · #5

Wow! I loved your entry but to be honest if I had taken that shot I would have deleted it because I know there's no way I could ever process it that well.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/16/2011 01:07:54 PM · #6

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

Wow! I loved your entry but to be honest if I had taken that shot I would have deleted it...

I nearly did, but I was using the magnifier in Bridge to see how sharp it was (new lens, don'tcha know?) and I realized that crow was casting a baleful glare my way, so I said to myself "You can do something with this!"

R.

Adz

Nikon D80

02/16/2011 01:14:18 PM · #7

This is why it is great when people post originals on the site. Thanks a lot, shows how much I need to experiment with photoshop etc. Amazing what you can do with an original like that.

Message edited by author 2011-02-16 13:15:01.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/16/2011 01:16:34 PM · #8

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

Wow! I loved your entry but to be honest if I had taken that shot I would have deleted it because I know there's no way I could ever process it that well.

I thought the same thing. I never would have saved that shot. Trash can.

Makes me wonder what gems I've thrown away. :)

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

02/16/2011 02:55:48 PM · #9

Thats not photography! thats photoshop!

02/16/2011 03:07:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by LVicari:

Thats not photography! thats photoshop!

Says the man who gave us THIS literal, unmanipulated image :-)

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

02/16/2011 03:12:22 PM · #11

I was just waiting for a response! :)

I was trying to prod the "purists"

Just having fun, Robert.

Leo

BTW : Who says my image was manipulated? That was pretty much straight out of the camera. I think :)

Message edited by author 2011-02-16 15:19:49.

02/16/2011 03:24:19 PM · #12

Originally posted by LVicari:

Who says my image was manipulated? That was pretty much straight out of the camera. I think :)

I quote your note in the Photographer's Notes box:

"Having fun with PS."

What's a bear s'posed to think? (And I'm just having fun too...)

More seriously: Although there were a lot of steps involved in making the image useful, I don't consider it to be particularly "photoshopped": the end result is reasonably close to what was shot. Seriously. I have a TON of images that are WAY more 'shopped than that :-)

R.

Message edited by author 2011-02-16 15:24:29.

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

02/16/2011 03:38:32 PM · #13

Hey

I know. Mine was shopped pretty good. I was trying to spark a debate on PS and Photography. I personally dont care how much PS goes into an image as long as it looks good.

Leo

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

02/16/2011 03:40:13 PM · #14

Thank you very much Robert for all the info.
I was stunned by your photo, even independently of the challenge, although it was perfection for Hitchcock.
What is ACR? (Ignorance here) I have photoshop CS4 and love it.

Nikon MF Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D PC

02/16/2011 05:06:28 PM · #15

Originally posted by mariuca:

What is ACR? (Ignorance here) I have photoshop CS4 and love it.

Adobe Camera Raw: it's the RAW converter Bridge uses by default, and when you are through with it the image opens in Photoshop.

R.

chazoe

Nikon Z7 FX

02/16/2011 05:25:30 PM · #16

Wow! Thank you so much for the work you put into sharing that info with the rest of us. If I recall correctly you used to be a teacher, and that is obviously part of your nature, lucky for us.

Cuttooth

Canon EOS R