Snowy Owls first photos post

[denisemaine]

This is my first try at posting photos here. I will appreciate your feedback.

[FootLoose]

Excellent shot, Denise. It must have been looking directly down the barrel of the lens because its eyes follow me as I shift about at my desk.

Were the branches in the background blurred by the camera or did you do that in post? They seem a little odd to me.

[denisemaine]

Thank you. Blurred by the camera. The owl was far away from the camera, at 200mm on my camera. I had to crop it a lot. Maybe it would help if I added a little gaussian blur to the background.

[Plumcrak]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[IzzieK]

No Denise... I like your composition. Local colour enhancement (quick edit mask) might help the blurred twigs at the left hand side...just a thought...

[Stagecoach]

Very nice Denise, the branches to the left do not worry me but it may be worthwhile giving the sky a wee bit of noise removal but ensuring you do not do this at a detriment of that great owl.

And of course, welcome to CiC and congrats on your first post.

Grahame

[wtlwdwgn]

Actually, I rather like it as is. Very nice composition and the soft BG allows the owl to pop!

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Mike Buckley]

You really know how to make a grand entrance, Denise! Very well done!

The blurred branches appear very natural to me. I wouldn't change them a bit. However, I would eliminate at least the uppermost sharp branch on the left and probably the other four in the lower left corner.

The details in the white feathers are quite good but you can bring out even more detail in the bright area on top of the bird's head and on the chest. One method is to select those two areas and apply a strong reverse S-curve. The one I used shown below worked great. Alternatively, I recently read in this thread about using the Recovery tool in ACR that seems to accomplish the same thing. Review posts 28 - 32 for an understanding of what can be achieved and why it is achieved.

[bnnrcn]

Welcome Denise, I like the image, I agree with Mike about cloning the sharp small branches on the left

[denisemaine]

OK .. good feedback, thanks. I cropped out the sharp braches on left. And brought out the detail in the owls whiter areas in PS CS6 by selecting the area, layer by copy and topaz filter HDI.

I did not try to de-noise the blue wasn't sure how I could easily isolate the blue - I know there is a way I have to think on it. And I am still not sure how I can improve the appearance of the strange blurr of the background branches.

[Mike Buckley]

Wonderful revision!

[denisemaine]

thanks ... do you think it would be better to remove the blurred branches entirely?

I used to be part of as 4 person group, all learning photography and Photoshop together. Over time the group is down to two. It is great to have new eyes here with different insight, experience and knowledge.

[denisemaine]

OK, worked to minimize the distraction of the blurred background branches, I could have removed them entirely but like to have a little back there .. and reduced the noise in the blue. There is so much that can be done with Photoshop that it is sometimes difficult to decide when to stop . . . I think this may be the place to stop on this one. ??

[Mike Buckley]

I would stop either at the last one or the next to last one, depending on the version you like best. If you do decide to remove the out-of-focus branches, consider making a tighter crop that positions the bird's nose in keeping with the Rule of Thirds.

[ShaneS]

Great shot Denise and welcome to CiC! I like the last edit ad your reasoning for leaving the hint of the branches in the image. Crop or not this is an image to be proud of.

[FootLoose]

The last one works for me, Denise.

[davidedric]

Hi Denise,

Great shot. I think I might selectively brighten up the eyes a little; they are a bit hidden by the surrounding feathers.

A bit like this (please say if you want me to remove the image)

Dave

[erichamous]

I think it would be more better, since its good. You can set the contrast of the background. It is looking cute white Owl. Great.

[denisemaine]

Hi Denise,

Great shot. I think I might selectively brighten up the eyes a little; they are a bit hidden by the surrounding feathers.

A bit like this (please say if you want me to remove the image)

Dave

Good suggestion Dave, thanks ... (no problem with posting your version of the image, it helps me to see what you mean)