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05/08/2020 12:37:05 PM · #1
Most of my challenge entries are in black and white. For some reason I'm just not good at colour. However I'd have liked to enter Free Study in colour... if only I could have got it right.

My entry:


Full size colour version, slightly cropped and minor contrast adjustments:


Can anyone get this to look good in colour?

(I wanted to upload the RAW file, but it didn't work.)
05/08/2020 12:50:15 PM · #2
I'll take a stab at it, though it may or may not be an improvement. I find that some images work better in color and others work better in b/w.
05/08/2020 12:54:51 PM · #3
For that particular image, I don't think there's anything to view in the colour version. All the colours are fairly muted which doesn't help. I'd have gone B&W like you did.
05/08/2020 12:55:14 PM · #4
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I'll take a stab at it, though it may or may not be an improvement. I find that some images work better in color and others work better in b/w.


Thanks. I'm not sure why, but very few of my images work well in colour.
05/08/2020 01:37:51 PM · #5
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I'll take a stab at it, though it may or may not be an improvement. I find that some images work better in color and others work better in b/w.

Thanks. I'm not sure why, but very few of my images work well in colour.

Clearly, you have the Ansel gene. It's something to be cherished. I love seeing you work in B/W and you do it well.

But since you asked :-) The grain is intentional. I'm a sucker for a mood :-)



Message edited by author 2020-05-08 13:55:37.
05/08/2020 01:43:34 PM · #6


Noise reduction

Warmed up WB to enhance reds in background while still leaving the bluish greens.

Duplicated layer

Adjusted upper layer in Nik Vivezia. Increased saturation and reduced structure to smooth out background bokeh

On lower layer, selective editing of details on the bird. Structure and saturation mostly. Reduced saturation on body to make it a brighter white.

Mask layers and flatten

Selective edting of details on bird's head and bug. Some enhancement of feather details.

Modest crop

Increased vibrancy

Resized

Selective sharpening on bird. Tried to enhance the details on the head and the tuft of feathers just above the legs.

05/08/2020 01:58:48 PM · #7
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:


Hah! That's more like it. All the birdwatchers will for sure prefer yours over mine. Practically everyone, I expect :-) Although I still much prefer the original B/W version to either of ours. Let's see what other surprises await us out there :-)
05/08/2020 02:25:39 PM · #8
I gave your B/W version a 7, BTW.
05/08/2020 02:44:25 PM · #9
I am not a bird shooter but I think that adding more vibrant colors would make a lot of difference.
my take on the editing
Btw I like Robert's grainy editing. (not the crop)
05/08/2020 02:51:27 PM · #10
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I'll take a stab at it, though it may or may not be an improvement. I find that some images work better in color and others work better in b/w.

Thanks. I'm not sure why, but very few of my images work well in colour.

Clearly, you have the Ansel gene. It's something to be cherished. I love seeing you work in B/W and you do it well.

But since you asked :-) The grain is intentional. I'm a sucker for a mood :-)



Looks good, but not really a colour photo either. I like grain too.
05/08/2020 02:56:55 PM · #11
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:



Noise reduction

Warmed up WB to enhance reds in background while still leaving the bluish greens.

Duplicated layer

Adjusted upper layer in Nik Vivezia. Increased saturation and reduced structure to smooth out background bokeh

On lower layer, selective editing of details on the bird. Structure and saturation mostly. Reduced saturation on body to make it a brighter white.

Mask layers and flatten

Selective edting of details on bird's head and bug. Some enhancement of feather details.

Modest crop

Increased vibrancy

Resized

Selective sharpening on bird. Tried to enhance the details on the head and the tuft of feathers just above the legs.


I like it. A lot better than my lame attempt at a colour edit. To be honest though, I prefer a bit of noise.
05/08/2020 03:03:41 PM · #12
Originally posted by GeorgesBogaert:

I am not a bird shooter but I think that adding more vibrant colors would make a lot of difference.
my take on the editing
Btw I like Robert's grainy editing. (not the crop)


I like the vibrant colours, but it's a bit dark. The bird seems to disappear into the background in places.
05/08/2020 04:05:17 PM · #13
OK, I had to jump in:


I liked, and so kept, the cooler tones, just warmed it a little bit. I used several modification layers here, including:
- A layer to selectively sharpen the bird
- A layer to selectively smooth the BG (either you want more grain, or a lot less; I went for the smooth BG)
- A global vibrance/saturation layer
- A global curves adjustment layer
- A curves layer to bring out detail in the bird's head
05/08/2020 05:02:36 PM · #14
[quote=kirbic] OK, I had to jump in:


That's a very nice job.
05/08/2020 05:45:21 PM · #15
I'm surprised Ken hasn't jumped in with a Godzilla edit yet.
05/08/2020 06:18:50 PM · #16
Had a go at it for you.

05/08/2020 06:23:11 PM · #17
Originally posted by MAK:

Had a go at it for you.


Very clean and tidy :-)
05/08/2020 06:26:06 PM · #18
I'm waiting until I get back to my computer to see the latest versions, but had to comment on this.

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I'm surprised Ken hasn't jumped in with a Godzilla edit yet.


I'd love to see what Ken can come up with.
05/08/2020 06:36:07 PM · #19
There's a reason I do photography and not drawn artwork.

05/08/2020 07:47:47 PM · #20
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

There's a reason I do photography and not drawn artwork...


LOL Steve... mine would be worse!
05/08/2020 09:12:07 PM · #21
Thanks for all your ideas. It's interesting to see how everyone's take was slightly different.

Based on the techniques used here, I tried to tweak my own colour edit and came up with this:



The face could do with a bit of sharpening, but otherwise I'm a lot happier than I was with what I had a few hours ago.
05/08/2020 09:12:56 PM · #22
Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

There's a reason I do photography and not drawn artwork...


LOL Steve... mine would be worse!


Mine too.
05/08/2020 11:44:32 PM · #23
MUCH better. But the B/W is still bitchinest :-)
05/08/2020 11:57:18 PM · #24
I need to learn from this. Good work on the color, Gina!
05/09/2020 04:18:11 AM · #25
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

MUCH better. But the B/W is still bitchinest :-)


I prefer it too, but it was good to see what I could do. There will be times when I need to enter a colour image.

Clearly this wasn't one of those times
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