Romy Ocon
07-23-2006, 07:27 AM
This Black-naped Oriole could use a lower angle and a cleaner BG, but oh boy.... if this specie didn't hoard all the yellows, we would have more brightly colored birds in our islands.... http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_mrgreen.gif
I find that yellows are one of the toughest bird colors to expose well. If I process it with enough punch to make it pleasing to my eyes, it normally results into the red channel going off the scale.
For this shot, I controlled the yellows by:
1. Converting the RAW file twice - one to expose the shadows and the second to control the yellows, then merging both conversions in PS CS2 layers to emulate an HDR image.
2. Again, working in layers, I selected (via magic wand) the areas that are close to clipping and toned these down a bit. This allowed me to adjust the levels/contrast universally and thus boosting the oomph of the mid-tones without going overboard on the highlights.
20D + Sigmonster, 800 mm, f/9, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, manual exposure, Subic rainforest:
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/63900616.jpg
Regards,
Romy
I find that yellows are one of the toughest bird colors to expose well. If I process it with enough punch to make it pleasing to my eyes, it normally results into the red channel going off the scale.
For this shot, I controlled the yellows by:
1. Converting the RAW file twice - one to expose the shadows and the second to control the yellows, then merging both conversions in PS CS2 layers to emulate an HDR image.
2. Again, working in layers, I selected (via magic wand) the areas that are close to clipping and toned these down a bit. This allowed me to adjust the levels/contrast universally and thus boosting the oomph of the mid-tones without going overboard on the highlights.
20D + Sigmonster, 800 mm, f/9, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, manual exposure, Subic rainforest:
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/63900616.jpg
Regards,
Romy