PP help required

[bedantabd]

Spotted this Black Shouldered Kite with a fresh kill (an Indian Robin) perched on a power line and was able take a few snaps before it flew away. Tried to remove the other wire by selecting/filling with content aware (100% opacity): this is only method I know/use to remove any unwanted things from background. But this time I was not very happy with the results.

Can anybody suggest some better methods? By the way, other C&C on the image are also welcome. Here is the image:

[jprzybyla]

Hello Bedanta, I used the Spot Healing Brush ( in Photoshop Elements 10 ) by picking the color of the sky to set the color and then working my way across the wire. After the wire was removed I used the Clone Stamp at an opacity of 40%, once again picking the sky color to blend the correction in.

[Otavio]

Hi Bedanta,

Here is a try to remove the wire. I used the clone stamp tool, then selected the bird+wire and applied a bit of noise reduction (selected the bird to avoid affecting its sharpness).



Nice picture, by the way...

Regards,

[Cantab]

A really good photo. The kite's eye stands out wonderfully because of its sharpness and colour.

[dje]

Very good quality image Bedanta - and some good cloning by Joe and Otavio.

Dave

[Walj]

Hi Bedanta,

First of all, thanks for sharing your shot. So lucky you caught this fella with the prey in its grip. I did make a clone and improved the image as follows. What I did was I removed the distracting cable with patch tool as you mentioned. I brighten the blue background and the bird's chest including its prey slightly then I used dodge tool for the eye before sharpen. Cropped a little bit:

Before


After

[bedantabd]

Thanks a lot Joe, Otavio and Walad: excellent cloning job. Have not used the clone stamp tool before, it is the next thing to learn/practice.

Bruce, Dave: thanks for the encouraging words. BSKs are one of the most beautiful raptors I have photographed.

Walad: I like the way you have brightened the eyes. Thanks.