Among my files that I am working on this week is this one:
This qualifies as a snapshot. I had just a moment to catch the “who me?” expression on the bird’s face just as he was standing near the warning sign. What I wanted to do was make the story more front and center. A crop was an obvious choice. I thought also I might like this in black and white.Β The edit is here:
I’ll call this a black and white with a cheat. I did a layer with my initial edits like the crop and some clarity. Then I did another layer with a the black and white edits. This particular black and white is done with a yellow filter, that ended up being the interpretation that I prefered. Then I added a final layer. I took a brush to that layer, made it the size of the bird’s eye and set the opacity to 35%. I was erasing just a bit off the black and white layer, just on the eye. So the final edit has a hint of color to the bird’s eye. I use the brush fairly regularly in my editing process. I don’t always think about setting its opacity, but that is a small but impactful way to make use of the tool. My final edit was a vignette that is centered on the eye, further accenting the look the bird was giving me.
What do you think of the final image, does the story pop more? Do you like the touch of color? Feel free to comment below.
Cheers!
Added to Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge, Signs.
I like the colour π
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Thanks very much.
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Super cute bird. I like your cropping giving a greater focus on the subject, but prefer the bird in colour rather then black and white…just love the blue of his chest.
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That makes me wonder about an edit where I just maybe desaturate some of the background. For whatever reason, the greens in particular in this shot just really kind of bother me. Thanks for your thoughts on this.
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I love the touch of color, but also love the blue on his chest in the color shot, if you could calm the greens around him
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Yes, those greens really were problematic in my opinion.
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I see more expression in the bird with the black and white. Do birds actually bite?
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Yes they do, they can move their heads pretty quickly to do so as well, so it’s good advice to keep a bit of distance.
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love this
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Thanks π
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I love the trouble you go to with your editing. It’s a whole art form, and very successful in this instance. He’s cute! π π
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Thanks so much!
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I like the edit for the vibrancy and clarity – and funny sign – about how they will bite – they look so sweet and docile – hah
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Yeah, keep your distance for sure π
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ohhh I would not like to be pinched by this bird (very pretty though)
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Yes, better admired from a bit of a distance.
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