2017 Project 52, First Quarter by Joe/ Joebranko

[joebranko]

Do I remember you have lightroom? Using the clarity slider will help bring back some of the detail in the swan's back. Nice composition on this one!

Thanks Judith. Unfortunately the details on the top back of the swan were blown beyond the capability of the clarity slider even at 100%, at which point some artifacts were being introduced. I have to accept that if I shoot with bright sunlight and in this case, with the sun overhead, then I must accept some problems with white objects. ( See Geoff's comment following yours).

[joebranko]

The swan in the first image is nicely positioned and really adds extra punch to the scene.

White birds, or flowers for that matter, in sunshine are a real problem aren't they. With flowers I can sometimes add a bit of shadow to the area; but nothing really helps with larger subjects like a swan, and under exposing to that level simply causes more problems with the shadows.

Thanks Geoff. I knew I was running a risk, but nothing ventured....

[joebranko]

Trees:

This was taken in LaSalle Park. It is a path along the edge of the water where I have taken many swan pics.



I switched parks for this next set. They are from Princess Point, Cootes Paradise, Hamilton.

I need to crop the left side to remove some offending branches, but later.



This last of the set is the water's edge in Cootes Paradise.

[Cantab]

Joe, I particularly like the first one. To my mind, the B&W works well.

[bnnrcn]

Nice shots Joe I would improve the sky some more in the last image.

[Geoff F]

They all work well.

With #2, I would clone out those branches on the left side instead of cropping. Possibly a very slight crop from the top and right side though?

[joebranko]

Joe, I particularly like the first one. To my mind, the B&W works well.

Thanks Bruce. This is one of my favorite shots.

[joebranko]

Nice shots Joe I would improve the sky some more in the last image.

Thanks Binnur. See if this is better:

[joebranko]

They all work well.

With #2, I would clone out those branches on the left side instead of cropping. Possibly a very slight crop from the top and right side though?

Thanks Geoff. I think I got all the offending branches. I usually opt for cropping instead of cloning as I am not usually successful cloning. However I think I was able to do it without messing up the area.
Instead of cropping top and right side I decided to try a 1:1 format. How does it look?

[rpcrowe]

I think that the skin tone problems on the paddleboard image were partially caused by general underexposure. I played with an image using NIK Viveza and brightened it, reduced saturation and increased structure. I also reduced the green a TAD. This is the result...



I also think that the water seems like a somewhat muddy-green color (was it) and that color reflected back onto the skin...

[Geoff F]

Your edit of the tree scene looks fine to me, Joe.

[joebranko]

Your edit of the tree scene looks fine to me, Joe.

Thanks Geoff.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[skitterbug]

Thanks Geoff. I think I got all the offending branches. I usually opt for cropping instead of cloning as I am not usually successful cloning. However I think I was able to do it without messing up the area.
Instead of cropping top and right side I decided to try a 1:1 format. How does it look?

This looks really good to me! May I ask about the black foreground? Has this been burned off to keep the weeds down? It adds a dramatic look to the pic!

[joebranko]

This looks really good to me! May I ask about the black foreground? Has this been burned off to keep the weeds down? It adds a dramatic look to the pic!

You are quite correct Sandy; the grass had been burned. It was a controlled burn, but I don't know the reason for the burn.

[Cantab]

Your edit of the tree scene looks fine to me, Joe.

I agree. Congratulations on the cloning work!