An Attempt at High Key Birds

[Brownbear]

I like high-key images so I thought I would try post processing a few bird images to see if I could create the look that I like so much.

I processed these images in Lightroom and processed to what I think is high-key mostly by moving the black point, but also by increasing the exposure a bit, and increasing the shadows and highlights. I quickly learned that this type of processing can make images look very washed out, and is not suitable to all.

lt may just be that I need to learn to do it well.

Egrets






Herons






Pelican



Of the images that I tried this on, I think it looks best on the pelican which was the most colourful image.

Followed by the 2nd White Egret which may be because although most of the tones of the image are on the far right the black point is lower than in the 1st Egret shot which looks washed out to me.

The Herons look a little washed out but mostly the sky bothers me as somehow it seems to have turned into an unreal blue?

I would be most appreciative of feedback as to whether I have created high-key images (and any processing tips), and to know if the pelican shot which I think looks best as high-key is truly high key, and if others agree that this is the best version of this set.

Thank you.

[Shadowman]

Christina,

All have a very artistic quality to them, I like them. Natural settings are very difficult for achieving a high key look, your at the mercy of the elements and lighting which you need to be able to control to achieve the high key look. What were your camera settings and how did your original histogram look? For high-key image, you want to expose to the right SOOC and that will reduce any post processing you'll need to do later.

[Brownbear]

Hi John,

I'm trying to develop my vision for how I would like my images to look. The birds shots were just something to try high key on, as I'm most comfortable processing these birds (because I know what they look like in real life) with the eventual goal being able to apply this to landscape and flower images.

All the shots I chose were exposed as far to the right as could be. The pelican shot was the most colourful (richest tones) as were the heron shots. I thought it would work best on the first egret shot because it was so white but it looks washed out to me, as do the herons. ie; the soft colours I like but washed out.

Thank you.

Christina,

All have a very artistic quality to them, I like them. Natural settings are very difficult for achieving a high key look, your at the mercy of the elements and lighting which you need to be able to control to achieve the high key look. What were your camera settings and how did your original histogram look? For high-key image, you want to expose to the right SOOC and that will reduce any post processing you'll need to do later.

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

I'm trying to develop my vision for how I would like my images to look. The birds shots were just something to try high key on, as I'm most comfortable processing these birds (because I know what they look like in real life) with the eventual goal being able to apply this to landscape and flower images.

All the shots I chose were exposed as far to the right as could be. The pelican shot was the most colourful (richest tones) as were the heron shots. I thought it would work best on the first egret shot because it was so white but it looks washed out to me, as do the herons. ie; the soft colours I like but washed out.

Thank you.

Christina,

The washed out look is what I was referring to about not having complete control of the high key setup. The second shot of the heron was backlit so that affects your midtones driving them towards shadow tones and the backlighting gives you little room in post-editing to recover any detail without either going dark or as you did going muted.

[Brownbear]

Thank you John.

I now see what you are saying. I just tried to lower the black point in that image, and even though there is a wee bit of room, is very little before clipping in the shadows shows. Good to know for type of image suited to high key. Thank you!

Christina,

The washed out look is what I was referring to about not having complete control of the high key setup. The second shot of the heron was backlit so that affects your midtones driving them towards shadow tones and the backlighting gives you little room in post-editing to recover any detail without either going dark or as you did going muted.

[purplehaze]

The first three shots are almost painterly, Christina. Can't wait to see you get where you're going! (And I hope to learn a few things along with you.)

[deetheturk]

Really nice series Christina!

[Saorsa]

Hi Cristina,

I played a little with the Egret and arrived at this (which may or may not be what you were trying). I looked at the historgram and found that it was all in a narrow band, well to the right, but not entirely to the right. This told me that you had the full range available to you.

Basically I first picked a black spot at the back of the leg and then used the curve range and highlight and shadow protection sliders in Capture NX (or FastStone).



I think that a lot of turning an image into a high key or low key must begin with the original capture. It needs to be clear and sharp with detail in a limited range. When playing with images with a lot of color it becomes problematic. I think we still need the full range so seeing dark colors turn to grey doesn't work for me.

Here is your image as above converted to monochrome. See how that works for you.


Incidentally, I really like the contrast of the randomness of the surf and the orderliness of the bird in the same tones it is the contrast in texture not colour that makes the difference for me. I think the black of the beak and legs draws your eye to the bird while the little bit of color around the eyes pulls it out of the background.

[chauncey]

Cristina, IMHO, the ETTR that John mentioned and as you already know, is crucial to all images...you can reduce exposure without introducing noise, whereas increasing exposure in PP adds noise.

That said, considering my anal techniques...I make basic corrections in LR then go into PS with the first thing being to make and save selections, often at the pixel level. From that point on, I treat all segments of the image separately. The background may receive different treatment than do the selections. Heed your whites with those white birds, keep the maximum RGB numbers in the 245-250 range.

Your second Egret is great, consider getting rid of the foliage, for a high key look and make the background lighter yet. The GBH's look pale and washed out and have different coloration...balance them if you can and add some pop to them and...lighten the background. Pelican is another great one...get rid of the boat and lighten the background only.

Making those selections up front is the key to my workflow, granted that it can be tedious but is, IMHO, well worth the time spent. Consider your well done swan, my posts #42 and Colin's response #43 Another Swan - High Key Attempt , selections were crucial.

[ajohnw]

I think the washed out look may well be down to exposure increases Christina. It doesn't do anything for contrast. Often the opposite. If you just push it all to the right a la etr with software this is what will often happen.

If you fancy posting the raws for 1 and 3 I wouldn't mind having ago at both as I suspect each needs a different approach. I'm feeling bored and could do with something I needn't do to do.

One thing you could try is a layer blend with a conventionally processed but well adjusted image. It's something I have tried with some over the top GIMP plugins. Layer mode there is normal and opacity varies the mix. The same sort of approach can be used with all sorts of adjustments even with several layers. Some times soft light or hard light or one of the other layer modes is more appropriate.

John
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[Brownbear]

Janis.. Thank you for your encouraging words. Truly appreciated. I am going to try this with a landscape after I redo one of the birds (later this week)

David... Thank you.

Brian... Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. The Egret shot was photographed with a high iso (1600) early morning, and I could've exposed it more to the right, and likely processed it more to the right but I could see that I was wiping out all the detail (noise included ) I like the B&W version. I will try processing this shot again later this week following your tips, and Chauncey's and John's.

Chauncey... Thank you for the great feedback and advice. I processed these in LR because I'm most comfortable with this program but I do have Photoshop CC and I can see that selective adjustments for curves etc would be best. When I try the Egret shot again I will use Photoshop CC. With respect to those leaves I find that cloning is impossibly difficult to do well if it is more than one wee leaf, not needed for nature shots but yes likely for Bird Art so eventually I will learn to do it.. I'm going to print your reply and later at my leisure try them all again. The pelican is the only one of the set that turned out the way I envisioned it, so nice to hear. I will try lightening up the background. Thank you so much for taking the time to advise. I forgot all about that swan and I will try that one again, too. Should be easier as I feel like my processing skills have improved since then.

John.... Thank you for the advice. Here are the raw images. Please keep it simple.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jh28zogrwgnw88v/150.NEF

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p0kzjyiofs92hwe/220.NEF

Following are the screen shots of the Egret showing the histogram changes due to my processing

1. Raw image



2. Processed image (the histogram looks far to the right to me)

[ajohnw]

I've not tried this before Christina so no idea what will happen. What struck me on the white background one is that whites needn't all be crunched up into the highlights and got had the impression that they had while also loosing too much contrast.

John
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[Brownbear]

Hi John,

No worries! It truly doesn't matter if your edit turns out or not. Sharing simply because you asked and you seem to enjoy post processing and I think it is a great way for others to learn new things, and I have no doubt that I will learn something new from your try. It's simply for learning, so keep it simple.

I've not tried this before Christina so no idea what will happen. What struck me on the white background one is that whites needn't all be crunched up into the highlights and got had the impression that they had while also loosing too much contrast.

John
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[Mike Buckley]

Christina,

I don't know the look that you're aiming for, but consider the high-key photos of birds at this web site, which generally represent in my mind the classic look of that style of photography. (Ignore the photos that aren't of birds and those of birds that aren't high-key photos.) What do you see as the primary difference between those photos and your photos? Do you like or dislike that difference?

[Wavelength]

Lovely set of images; you are an expert to capture flying birds, no flattery meant

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for that link. In my searches I haven't come across so many high key bird images that I love, and this site is a beauty that I will keep as a reference.

I can't think of just one thing but I would say that the backgrounds seem to be brighter and often sparser, and that the colours are richer, and that the blacks seem to be blacker. The highlights are beautiful and the images seem to be have a real dreamy feel. I love that difference!

So is there a special way to do this (including the first step of taking the image) and in post processing?

Christina,

I don't know the look that you're aiming for, but consider the high-key photos of birds at this web site, which generally represent in my mind the classic look of that style of photography. (Ignore the photos that aren't of birds and those of birds that aren't high-key photos.) What do you see as the primary difference between those photos and your photos? Do you like or dislike that difference?

[Mike Buckley]

the blacks seem to be blacker

Bingo! That's the primary difference. You also liked that characteristic of Brian's image. Your images are missing the dark tones that you like so much. When you adjust the tone curve, make sure you don't lose them and you'll like the results more.

[Brownbear]

Bingo! Thank you. I will try just that. Truly appreciated.

Bingo! That's the primary difference. You also liked that characteristic of Brian's image. Your images are missing the dark tones that you like so much. When you adjust the tone curve, make sure you don't lose them and you'll like the results more.

[Mike Buckley]

Bingo!

I reported the bug in CiC software that is creating the echo in the room.

[ajohnw]

Go 2. i tried a high key curve on raw. The basic image has a 2 hump histogram. First task was to find a point on the curve to control the darker hump caused by the sand and move the "hump" up in tone level so that it starts to co inside or merge with the other one. Then adjust other points to maintain contrast in the bird which is pretty high key anyway. As the black looked strident I lifted the black point to weaken it. Then decided I will need to do more post raw back tracked a bit to leave some highlight room. I then played with raw settings. Selected restore hsv for sharp detail, digital linear and absolute colorimetric for output. I prefered the colours set like that but feel the sand is a bit of a problem. Saturation boosted as I preferred the look.

Raw curve



It's probably possible to spend 1/2 hr plus adjusting the 2 top points and significant time on the black point.

Result so far



Odd colour balance. Not sure why so thought I would play with that later. The sand hump can be pushed up further.

I tried normal raw plus levels and then curves 1st but not possible for me to do it and lighten the sand. Using curves cleared up the fact that I needed to treat the sand "separately". My son reckons I have created a painting. His comment on the straight raw was where did you shoot that.

John
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