Could use some help with a project. (image heavy)

[Barbara Ponder]

I have not posted in a while as I have been busy. I am working on a project for a friend. These are Roseate spoonbill chicks and they will be displayed in a beach house. Could use some constructive criticism on how to improve them. Also, the one with the whitish spots behind the head, is there any way to get rid of it as I find it very distracting. Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing your ideas. Keep in mind that I STILL have very limited PP skills and only use OnOne to PP.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I wouldn't remove the spots of white.

Nice series of shots.

[Barbara Ponder]

I wouldn't remove the spots of white.

Nice series of shots.

Thank you Alan!

[John 2]

Nice set of images Barbara. Not sure what PP software you have but if you have Photshop there are two ways I can think of. The first is to select the BG around the white area, clone in some appropriate colour an area nearby and then apply the Median filter to smooth it out. The selection will stop your cloning bleeding onto the bird itself. The trouble with this is that the selection has to be very accurate to look natural and avoid an edge around the bird. The second approach needs a knowledge of layers. You would select and copy just the Bird (also needs to be reasonably accurate), clone and smooth the white areas as before but also clone in the outline of the bird with the green BG. Then paste the copy of the bird back onto the original to cover what's left of the original bird image. You will now have the copy of the bird on a second layer and by selecting the layer, you can accurately clean up the outline of the bird using the eraser tool without affecting the modified BG (there are other ways but...). The first way is easier. The second way should give you a cleaner result. Those are my thoughts. Others may have different techniques.

[Barbara Ponder]

Thank you John, unfortunately still am not using photoshop I keep thinking I will and then just don't get around to it. I really just need to break down and take a class.

[TonyW]

I did a quick edit with photoshop more or less as John suggested and got this. As he said, you need to be accurate with the selection. I did the cloning without separate smoothing but it is a bit tricky to get it to look like the rest of the background.

I think that if it is done with a bit more care than I have taken it is an improvement. I didn't quite get the selection good enough.

[Barbara Ponder]

Wow, Tony thank you! It does look better without the bright spot.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, PP looks fine only critique would be careful of the tight crops.

[Barbara Ponder]

Nice series, PP looks fine only critique would be careful of the tight crops.

Thank you John! I have a little room on most of them which ones did you feel are tight?

[bnnrcn]

As the cloning issue has already been solved, all images look great to me

[Barbara Ponder]

As the cloning issue has already been solved, all images look great to me

Thank you Binnur!

[John 2]

Thank you John, unfortunately still am not using photoshop I keep thinking I will and then just don't get around to it. I really just need to break down and take a class.

My advice is to play with Photoshop and Google for a solution when you come up against something you don't know how to do. You will certainly learn the basics that way. You will also find your way around and become familiar with the menus so that if you do take a course, the learning curve won't be as steep.

[IzzieK]

I was a bit late here so the cloning issue has already been resolved...you do not have to break it down a lot when it comes to Photoshop. I learned by googling what I wanted to do then getting on with it...slow at first but faster as you go along and learn each step automatically. I use John (2) technique as it was from his instructions that I learned how to clone similar areas to my overexposed flower petals...

My favourite here is the last one if it needs to be displayed in a beach house...it is a classic pose but she has a cheeky look to that pose with those eyes...I thought this was the one that needs cloning at the top...

[Barbara Ponder]

Izzie, the word Photoshop just brings chills to my spine I am sure if I would sit down and just do it it would be ok but it intimidates the hell out of me.

The plan is to do an entire wall with all these shots. I thought about cloning out the pink on the last one but decided against it because I had it left it in the other shot, but looking at it again I see a line that I am not thrilled with so I shall see what I can do. Thanks for the input.

[chauncey]

Barbara, there are a fair number of folks here that would be happy to help you...
just put the original image in dropbox and let us have at it.

[deetheturk]

Wonderful images as usual Barbara, well captured!

[Barbara Ponder]

Barbara, there are a fair number of folks here that would be happy to help you...
just put the original image in dropbox and let us have at it.

I will definitely take you up on that! I need to learn how to use drop box but will look into that. I am headed to Big Bend National Park for a week so it might have to wait as I have much to do to be ready.

[Barbara Ponder]

Wonderful images as usual Barbara, well captured!

Thank you David!