Image Optimization Revelations Part I

This Brown Pelican image was also created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops off the white sky: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. I simply opened up 1/3 stop from the exposure that I was using at the time for the spoonbills. It is not uncommon to see a pelican landing at the nests with its bill pouch distended as seen in this image. I am unsure as to why they do that. I have never seen this behavior away from a breeding colony. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Image Optimization Revelations

In the March 12, 2013 blog post, How are Your Eagle Eyes?, I asked that folks let us know if they saw any evidence of Photoshop work, extensive or otherwise. As you can see by looking at the JPEG that represents the original capture below, the optimized image above is pretty much as it came out of the camera but for the crop and a bit of Levels, Contrast, and Color work. I did use NIK Color Efex Pro’s Detail Extractor to bring up the density on the pelican’s crown.

The unsharpened JPEG here represents the original RAW capture after being converted in DPP.

The Mangroves in the Corner

Note that the mangroves in the lower right corner were not, as some folks surmised, messed with in any way.

This Roseate Spoonbill flight image was created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops off the white sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. Exposure previously confirmed via histogram check. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

The Spoonbill Image

There was, on the other hand, extensive work done on the original capture here. The optimized image that appeared in the original post is above. See more below.

The unsharpened, uncropped JPEG here represents is the original capture after being converted in DPP.

The Closed Eye

It is obvious here that the spoonbill’s eye was closed. This happens often with the best flight pose in a sequence.

The Solution

I painted a Quick Mask of the sharp eye and the base of the bill from the next frame in the sequence(see same below), used the Move Tool (V) to bring it into the original image, reduced the Opacity of the layer, and carefully position and transformed the eye using the Transform and Warp commands. The “good” eye had the pupil well back so I did some Eye Doctor work, first with the Clone Stamp Tool and then with a Quick Mask, to center it.

This is the next frame in the sequence. The cropped, sharpened JPEG above represents the the RAW capture after being converted in DPP. If you click on the image to see the larger version, you will note that though the eye is open the lid is partially closed and thus the pupil is centered in the back of the eye. Thus the need for the Eye Doctor work described above.

Digital Basics, APTATS I, AND APTATS II

Digital Basics details Eye Doctor techniques, my complete Digital Workflow, all of my keyboard shortcuts, and dozens of great Photoshop tips. APTATS I covers advanced Quick Masking and APTATS II was responsible for me finally understanding how to use both Regular and Hide-all Layer Masks.

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NIK 15% Discount

NIK Color Efex Pro was used on each of the optimized images above. As regular readers know, it has drastically changed my digital workflow and little by little I have begun using Viveza to solve more than a few sticky image optimization problems and Silver Efex Pro for fast, dramatic B&W conversions. You can save 15% on all NIK products (including Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Viveza) by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. You can download a trial copy that will work for 15 days and allow you to create full sized images.

The Gull Wingstretch Image

The third image in the March 12, 2013 blog post, How are Your Eagle Eyes?, underwent the most radical post-processing of the three. The work done there along with a very important hand holding lesson will be featured in a blog post soon.

BAA Bulletin #434

BAA Bulletin #434 is on-line now. It can be accessed here.

• Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT Report
• Announcing the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013
• TPPA Convention Keynote
• Swan Island Dahlia Farm Instructional Photo-Tour
• Used Camera Gear Including Some New Items
• Posse News: Robert Amoruso
• Posse News: Jim Neiger
• IPT Info

Seriously Huge B&H Savings on Nikon and Canon Gear

Nikon

For the first time in many years NIKON is going to be deeply discounting many legacy pro lenses individually for the next 2 weeks only with discounts up to $350. There are also many amazing deals on NIKON Buy together and Save packages as well. Click here to save.

Nikon DSLRS Bundles with Lenses & Flash: Save up to $750. Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Lenses & Speedlites: Save Up to $300

Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Buy Together & Save: Save Up to $400

Click here to save.

Typos

On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂

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