Balancing Act

[purplehaze]

My first experience with the new D500 yesterday was dropping it on the sidewalk. I am not going to tell you what foolishness caused that. In any case, it seems no harm was done as I caught this guy in the backyard as the sun was waning. I am looking forward to my outing later today.

[Wavelength]

It is a nice image; i like the diagonal style

[xpatUSA]

Splendid detail, Janis!

I might tone down the top cable(?) a bit, especially the highlight on the underside ...

Good luck with the later outing - be taking a strap, eh?

[Manfred M]

Lovely image Janis - nice, simple and to the point. Why does only the left-most cable cast a shadow, while the other two do not? That does look a bit strange.

[purplehaze]

Thanks, Nandakumar, Ted and Manfred. The shadow is in fact an OOF cable! I agree it looks strange, and probably would be better taken out. I suppose if the background sky wasn't so uniform, it would be more obvious.

[xpatUSA]

The shadow is in fact an OOF cable! I agree it looks strange, and probably would be better taken out. I suppose if the background sky wasn't so uniform, it would be more obvious.

In that case, how about taking out both of the "upper" cables and then cropping sideways from left so that the "lowest" cable exits at just to the right of the bottom left corner?

The animal is then traveling down a sort of road in the sky ... sort of ...

[purplehaze]

Great idea, Ted! Is this better?



(I have also tweaked a number of the processing parameters.)

I also captured this frame:



I am wondering whether there is enough contrast in each. And I am struggling with the white balance. It is past time to recalibrate my monitor.

[xpatUSA]

Great idea, Ted! Is this better?



(I have also tweaked a number of the processing parameters.)

Looks good to me, Janis. Others might think differently.

I also captured this frame:



I am wondering whether there is enough contrast in each.

Maybe increase micro-contrast a little with USM radius 2.3px at an amount of 9/100 or 10% or whatever your editor says for that.

And I am struggling with the white balance. It is past time to recalibrate my monitor.

I would separate how it looks on your screen from the image data itself.

If the RGB data is neutral (R=G=B) for a neutral area in the scene, your "white balance" is correct. If it looks blue on it your screen that is a completely different matter ...

HTH

[Wavelength]

I think the two line edit is very nice; the newly added image is also very good; but comparing the moving away image is better

[purplehaze]

Thanks, Nanda! Ted, with your prompting, I finally learned how to display colour readouts in Capture One. My white balance is basically spot on, but I think my display is not. I am not quite sure how to translate your sharpening instructions to Capture One, but will think on it tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

[xpatUSA]

Thanks, Nanda! Ted, with your prompting, I finally learned how to display colour readouts in Capture One. My white balance is basically spot on, but I think my display is not.

Well done, Janis. If it's any consolation, I've never calibrated my monitor although I might get jumped for saying that, LOL.

I am not quite sure how to translate your sharpening instructions to Capture One, but will think on it tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

You are most welcome! I took the liberty of looking at Capture One. Lily seems to know a bit about it:

https://support.captureone.com/hc/en...s/360002606917

In the Details tab, then the Sharpening tool:

The amount range looks like 0 to 1000 so the equivalent to my setting should be 100 or so.

The radius should be the same - 2.3, or play. The thing here is to use a larger radius than that what one might use for edges, so as to increase the micro-contrast of the fur.

The threshold perhaps leave at default. Or play, - your call. I'm not so familiar with 'thresholds' in general.

The halo suppression ... I'm thinking zero, I don't trust it at all ...

Good luck!

[purplehaze]

Here it is with a bit of extra sharpening applied.

[xpatUSA]

Good one, Janis. Well done!!