Latest GBH

[wmchauncey]

I've got tons of GBH images but none with the detail present in this one of a series.

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l...ction-copy.jpg

Minor PP done in LR to this 20x20", @ 300ppi, image. It's the kind of an image that deserves more, whatever that means, than standard PP.
One attempt that I tried was this but, it left me wanting something better...any suggestions out there?

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l...e-off-copy.jpg
.

[Tony W]

Re: Latest GBH

Consider desaturating the greens and yellows (edit version) and darkening if necessary background only (paint back the yellows in the bird on a mask) as the background is competing a little too much with the bird for our attention. You may want to leave the yellow in the water just see what you think after desat.

[Wolfman]

Re: Latest GBH

I desaturated and darkened the background in camera raw with the adjustment brush and lightened the blue in HSL...then used tonal contrast in Nik Color Efex specifically on the bird.

[0lBaldy]

Re: Latest GBH

Maybe a selective Luminosity Mask "Different Masks for Different Tones" isolating just the GBH would help ...
A "Luminosity masks" action (it creates 15 curves adj. layers for the brightest lights to the darkest shadows and the narrowest mid-tones in between), made by member Der_W is available here..
Just put a mask on the Group Icon, mask out the background then play with all the different layers beneath to get your desired results

(Give the sample GIF a couple seconds to change after clicking on it)

[wmchauncey]

Re: Latest GBH

OlBaldy...those links look fascinating, will check them out tomorrow, meantime...
I've tried to lighten the bird numerous way but I run into loss of detail, that this 800 pxl crop shows.

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l...-pxle-crop.jpg

That white fuzz under the bill is 209-210-205 and loses detail with numbers much higher.
Guess I could try to lighten the rest and leave the fuzz as is???