golden eagle

Critiques [Translate]

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• shelbeesmom (35763)
• [2008-10-13 15:36]

I do like the bird, but not the sky! The bird holds his own. So here is what I do... I trace a pretty close line around the bird... and then convert everything else to BLACK... Then take my clone tool and make sure that the hardness is not alot..maybe 15 points? and then I click pretty close to the edges of whatever I am going around, hair, feathers etc. I make sure that I give it a feathered look...I'll send you an example on email!
Nice try Buddy!
B-)
Linda
xxxxxxxxx

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• cherim (6)
• [2008-10-13 15:57]
• [+]

One way I avoid a very hard outline is to use the 'feathering' option after I have outlined it. I would feather 3-5 as a start and see if I like it. I use a lot of trial and error - to see what works best. I do like the detail within the eagle. I would have used a less dramatic sky. (just my opinion). Cheri

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• lucaq8 (108)
• [2008-10-14 0:04]

Hi, Brian I like your experiment with the eagle.
IMPRESSIVE!!!

For the outline I know that everyone have proper method. I like to use a mask and with a brush to paint the subject or the background, depend what I need. After that I work very close to the edge with a lot of work make and delete (black and white brush) with a very large zoom, about 250%. When I think is fine I add a little gaussian blur effect direct on the mask selection. This do the transition between subject and background more natural.


Luca

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• Ejtaan (9810)
• [2008-10-14 1:54]
• [+]

Brian, you can try to soften the outline by selecting the white around the bird in the layer and then use the "feather" tool to blur the edges a bit. What I usually also do is add a very little shadow after I blurred the edges.
I must say that in "problem" cases such as this you will always see it's PP-work.

You can also try and find a new background which matches your bird better.

May I ask how you selected the bird from the background??
I usually make a path in Photoshop and use the pen tool to get exactly around the edges... This is absolutely the best way to do it.
Erasing the area around the subject is done a lot too, but it's not the best way to do it.

Hope this is of any help to you, if not please let me know.. I'll do my best to send you some screenshots as to how this pen tool and path works.

Cheers,
Anneke

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• CameronDuncan (0)
• [2008-10-14 14:01]
• [+]

hi brian,

good idea, but the bird is false looking, as is the sky. the fact that the bird is stuffed and isn't moving or blinking should mean you can shoot it almost perfectly ie pin sharp and well exposed. keep practising the pp work, you have some good advice there from other members, i guess that's what TL is for, to ask for advice. sorry i can't help with the pp work.

regards cd