Project 52 by Bryan (BJ Denning)

[ktuli]

Bryan,

I am very jealous of this bird sanctuary you have access to. Definitely keep visiting as the images you're coming back with are definitely very impressive!

- Bill

[Geoff F]

I would crop a little tighter though, Bryan, at the top and left side.

That background is distracting against an excellent shot of the bird.

[BJ Denning]

Bryan,

I am very jealous of this bird sanctuary you have access to. Definitely keep visiting as the images you're coming back with are definitely very impressive!

- Bill

Thanks Bill. I have a few more from that outing, yet to process.

[BJ Denning]

I would crop a little tighter though, Bryan, at the top and left side.

That background is distracting against an excellent shot of the bird.

Thanks Geoff. I was torn on the crop. For some reason I really liked the moss. Perhaps the green amougst all the orange/yellow. The Owl is a bit lost.

[BJ Denning]

Here is a another one of the Owl, but closer to lessen the background.

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 190 mm

This one is a eagle Owl, one of the largest owls. He was pretty serious, look at those talons.

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 123 mm
ISO Speed: 200

And just to mix is up, here is an eagle ...

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 300 mm
ISO Speed: 200

[Geoff F]

I think you could still have a bit more at the bottom, Bryan. It is the bright area at the top which is most distracting. You can usually get away with a fairly close crop at the top as long as the overall scene remains well balanced.

The latest shots are well focused; but I think, once again, you could still lose a little bit from the top of the Eagle Owl to reduce background problems.

[BJ Denning]

How about a change. A local studio had a model night. It's usually quite enjoyable. A relaxed environment, with some patient models. Great practice for me, who needs to practice with directing the shoot and conceiving a shot.

Shawna. I was thinking night to day or dark to light. I really liked the blue/yellow-orange contrast.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 190 mm
ISO Speed: 1250

Camille. I enjoyed the lights in the background (flash through a shower door). I changed her eye color in post to match her lips. The theme was "future" and none standard eye color seems to make the shot different.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Shawna. This one was distinctly future and with the correct white balance this has a cold icy feel.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[FrankMi]

Hi Bryan, I've been busy and still need to do some catching up. I really like the Eagle Owl and I haven't seen changing the eye color to match the clothing done before, a very intriguing result. Did you do a basic color replacement or was it more complicated than that?

[BJ Denning]

Hi Bryan, I've been busy and still need to do some catching up. I really like the Eagle Owl and I haven't seen changing the eye color to match the clothing done before, a very intriguing result. Did you do a basic color replacement or was it more complicated than that?

Hi Frank.
I've seen several tutorials on Youtube on changing eye color. Some apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and then paint a mask to just affect the eyes.

Some use layer blending modes, this is what I did. You create a blank layer, choose a paint brush and color and paint over the eyes. Then choose a blending mode like "color" or "soft light" and adjust the opacity. You can then apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment clipped to just the color layer and adjust the color as desired.

Hope this helps.

[FrankMi]

Hi Frank.
I've seen several tutorials on Youtube on changing eye color. Some apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and then paint a mask to just affect the eyes.

Some use layer blending modes, this is what I did. You create a blank layer, choose a paint brush and color and paint over the eyes. Then choose a blending mode like "color" or "soft light" and adjust the opacity. You can then apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment clipped to just the color layer and adjust the color as desired.

Hope this helps.

Yes it does Bryan. I like the effect but realize that it would take a very special image, as you have here, to make it work effectively. Thanks again!

[Donald]

Impressive set of portraits, Bryan.

[BJ Denning]

Thanks Donald. Portraits are a real weakness for me. I wish I shot more, but I tend to be a little reserved. These open shoots are alot of fun and the models are very patient and willing to try just about anything. I can't wait to shot more, I have to say that I really like the feeling of showing the model and hearing their feedback.

Below are a few from a local Zoo outing.

Cormorant, the teal eyes were crazy, these were natural (believe it or not).


Mandarin Duck, I really want to try to remove the leaf but I'm not sure I can without it being noticable. Ah well, perhaps a project for the holidays.


Green Tree Python. I love the pattern in the scales and the eyes. There is a red/maroon variety, I wish I had a photo of.

[FrankMi]

Three more winners Bryan? You are definitely getting better! There are great just the way they are so the following suggestions are only if you want to play with slightly different views.

With that pose, the Cormorant could benefit for enough DoF to get the beak in focus, if possible.

A really nice capture of the Mandarin! Most of the leaf would be easily cloned out except for the shaping of the edge of the head. It would be well worth playing with even if it takes several attempts. On the other hand, like the Cormorant, as this is a zoo creature it might be better to perfect the shot in-camera.

On the Python you could try a tighter crop to get the eye in one of the four 1/3 cross points. Which one? That depends on how tight the crop is that feels best to you.

[Donald]

On the Python you could try a tighter crop to get the eye in one of the four 1/3 cross points. Which one? That depends on how tight the crop is that feels best to you.

I'd agree. I think it maybe needs to be on the left, given that it's looking left-to-right. But that's just being conventional. Rules are made to be broken.

[BJ Denning]

Thanks Frank/Donald. Here is a new crop.



And here are a few new street type photography shoots from the opening of a local Christmas event.

Pere Noel




I have never tried HDR, so I thought I would give it a go. This is a 3-shot merge in CS6. C&C welcome.

[FrankMi]

Nice crop on the Python Bryan! Much more impact.

Tell us about the snowflake shot, it is an interesting composition.

[Geoff F]

Too early to be thinking about Christmas while it is still November.

Good sharp images here. The wagon seems a little soft at this size but appears much sharper at full screen view.

In the UK, Father Christmas/Santa Claus etc always wears bright red but some places in the world seem to use grey instead.

[BJ Denning]

Nice crop on the Python Bryan! Much more impact.

Tell us about the snowflake shot, it is an interesting composition.

The snow flake is a random shiny ornament hanging outside. The crop was pretty much out of the camera, I think I may have recropped a little to put it right on the third line. The biggest choice was backgrounds -- I have several shots, but the one with the window in the background seems to work the best. I originally took shots thinking that I may use it for composites, sometimes I take shots of textures/objects for stock, then just liked this one as was. I did remove the wire it was hanging from.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 67 mm
ISO Speed: 100

[BJ Denning]

Too early to be thinking about Christmas while it is still November.

Good sharp images here. The wagon seems a little soft at this size but appears much sharper at full screen view.

In the UK, Father Christmas/Santa Claus etc always wears bright red but some places in the world seem to use grey instead.

Santa is generally in a red suite in the US as well. This local event has personalities that wonder Main Street every weekend. Included are "Santa" from various regions of the world and other characters, i.e. Pere Noel, Father Christmas (in green), Julenisse, Jack Frost, Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, etc. They all stay in character as you speak to them and will share their backgrounds. You also find chestnut roasting, carolers, hot chocolate.

The event is offically started by the arrival of "red" Santa.


I just liked the Pere Noel character. His curly beard and his personality. Jack Frost was hilarious as well, since he gets to be a little grumpy and jokes with the kids ...


One of the fun parts is that each character carries cards with their story and picture. The families are encouraged to collect all the cards, they are free -- although some characters will make you work for them.

Here is the maylay that ensued at the opening as all the kids tried to get to as many characters as possible before they dispersed.

[Geoff F]

Some interesting extra photos there, all well shot.

The original English Father Christmas from a long time ago, and part of the Mummer Plays, was an entirely different rather scary character.

They appear to have dressed mostly in green and went between inns with a horse's skull frightening people into buying them drinks. But most of this was lost a long time ago. Although a few people try to reenact something along similar lines.

The 'modern Christmas' seems to be mostly a Victorian invention although similar ideas developed in a number of countries around the same time.

Didn't the named reindeers come from an American poem?