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Alcedo Atthis
Alcedo Atthis
riot


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2016-11 (Standard Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: Helios 40-1 85mm f/1.5
Location: The taxidermist's
Date: Nov 9, 2016
Aperture: f/1.5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Animals, Birds
Date Uploaded: Nov 30, 2016

 This is a completely shameless cheat; this common kingfisher (Alcedo Atthis) is stuffed.

Shot through a taxidermist's shop window with the 85mm at f/1.5; the shallow depth of field somewhat simulates motion blur on the wingtips.

Editing: Curves, selective saturation, cloning to remove any hint that it's not actually flying, dodging and burning (including dodging all of the remaining background into oblivion), channel mixer to blend blues and greens, then splitting them into layers and applying a different curve to each colour to reassemble them into a more pleasing flow of irridescence of greeny-blue to deep blue, selective desaturation to remove browns and reds except around its head, selective desaturation of the wingtips, selective curves, crop and extending with a white "border" for a more pleasing composition, resize, and three stage selective sharpen.

For those wondering if they've seen this photo before... it was briefly seen in Blue and White, before I realised and requested a self-DQ - the word "blue" had crossed wires in my brain late at night, and I accidentally clicked the wrong contest to enter. That one was minimal editing, and this editing is far from minimal, so just leaving it there wasn't an option.

Statistics
Place: 42 out of 78
Avg (all users): 5.7455
Avg (commenters): 6.6667
Avg (participants): 5.7568
Avg (non-participants): 5.7222
Views since voting: 684
Views during voting: 94
Votes: 55
Comments: 4
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Sony Alpha a1 II
Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
 12/08/2016 05:28:55 AM
Hello from the critique club

A very appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Another unique image Eugene. I love the sharp focus where its needed and the soft focus wingtips which, as you say, suggests a little motion blur, it works well. The angle is lovely giving a further sense of dynamic action. I can understand why you will have removed the background given the rest of the probably chaotic scene that would have been behind it. The plain white background you have gone with makes the image unique leaving us to focus entirely on the lovely detail of the bird itself so that we can appreciate the sheer beauty of these gorgeous little birds. Shame the blue and white was minimal editing...!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/07/2016 09:24:29 PM
Beautiful capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
 12/05/2016 01:49:47 PM
Lovely capture. I just wish you'd pulled out some of the shadow detail a bit as all the darks seem to run together - particularly the eye. 7 that I would have gone higher on otherwise.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D
 12/01/2016 11:34:51 PM
On the wing and moving. Rare.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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