I recently returned from our family vacation to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. It was truly an amazing experience. The most unique encounter was when I tried to get a reflection pano of the Teton peaks early in the morning at Schwabacher Landing, a moose decided to pose for me while he’s getting his morning coffee.
The composition is wonderful, and you caught the critter in just the right part of the scene, with a beautiful background.
Do you mind if I make an observation and suggestion that might make this good shot even more effective?
The moose is pretty dark, partly due to its natural coloration and partly due to the light. If you can create a mask (in Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, or Photoshop) that includes just the moose (try “select object”) you might then adjust the curve on the critter a bit to bring up highlights a bit, or even raise shadows and exposure a bit.
Monika C wrote:
The moose -- what a treat!
As for Dan's suggestion: you could also just increase the clarity/structure on the moose.
Good point.
It is a tricky thing, since the moose actually is a pretty dark critter, and going too far with adjustments could quickly start to look fake if not done carefully. There are several techniques that I’d probably play with to see which ones in what combination might work bests. The could include:
1. Some kind of soft-edged radial gradient mask around the moose with adjustments as below.
2. Selecting the moose itself as an object (or with careful manual work) with some of the same adjustment.
3. Combining both #1 and #2!
Adjustments to try:
Clarity
Exposure
Curves (often my favorite)
Shadows
It is even possible to raise the shadow levels of the whole image a bit, perhaps leaving the sky out of the adjustments.
It is really hard to know what would work or even if it would end up as an improvement over the nice image shared here, but worth playing around a bit, I think.
It is a tricky thing, since the moose actually is a pretty dark critter, and going too far with adjustments could quickly start to look fake if not done carefully. There are several techniques that I’d probably play with to see which ones in what combination might work bests. The could include:
1. Some kind of soft-edged radial gradient mask around the moose with adjustments as below.
2. Selecting the moose itself as an object (or with careful manual work) with some of the same adjustment.
3. Combining both #1 and #2!
Adjustments to try:
Clarity
Exposure
Curves (often my favorite)
Shadows
It is even possible to raise the shadow levels of the whole image a bit, perhaps leaving the sky out of the adjustments.
It is really hard to know what would work or even if it would end up as an improvement over the nice image shared here, but worth playing around a bit, I think....Show more →
He has a gradient mask but still is darker. I have also tried subject mask. It can look unnatural. Here is another version.
gordec wrote:
He has a gradient mask but still is darker. I have also tried subject mask. It can look unnatural. Here is another version.
I like what you did here. It is enough to bring a bit more visibility to the moose’s features. And, yes, I’m always a bit jealous when someone manages to get a critter into a composition so effectively. :-)
