Edward Rotberg
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 p.2 #8 · Costa Rica Wildlife: Part 3 (14) | |
OwlsEyes wrote:
Ed,
This is a really great series... the frogs are really strong images. I have photographed the blue-jean frog previously, but have not even approached the quality of this image. The detail, sharpness and composition are amazing.
Regarding the Red-Eyed frog, it looks a bit like a misfit frog... a smaller species than the often photographed Red-Eyed Tree Frog. It's the dark back and blue legs that lead me to believe its a misfit (though I am no herpetoligist). Was this a wild image or shot in an amphibian house? The last time I saw misfits was on the Osa Peninsula (it's posted on my website).
I recently returned from Costa Rica and shot really different stuff than you... which is very cool. It is really exciting to see the great variety and possibilities.
I envy the toucan images... while I was able to photograph Quetzals and Parrots on this trip, I just couldn't get the toucans... Even though it's a bit noisy on the tail, the first chestnut mandible is very cool... and I am a bit envious of the opportunity and photograph.
Finally, I'd be curious about how you "saved" the background. I shot a number of really cool 3 toed sloths, but the white sky really diminishes the overall images...
Please share your technique.
thanks and regards,
bruce...Show more →
Thanks Bruce,
It's funny I had really been hoping to see some Quetzals, and also would have liked to have gotten some good photos for Parrots, and although we saw the parrots we never got close. The Toucans were photographed near the Arenal Observatory, fwiw.
As for the noise - I'm very, very conservative about noise reduction anywhere on the subject itself. I usually will totally avoid it. Coming from the old film days, and shooting Tri-X and such, the grain became part of the image. With today's awesome NR software, it is all too easy to use NR everywhere. You then get (IMHO) plasticky looking birds and animals. For my part, I'll take a bit of noise. Now perhaps I'm a bit overboard as the area you are talking about has no detail anyhow. I may revisit it if/when I decide to print the image.
Finally as to the repair of the blown sky, it is a technique I read about a long time ago. This probably won't work in anything but Photoshop, but here goes a bad explanation. First, you make a rough selection of the blow sky areas. You then Save that selection (Selection->Save) creating a New Channel. Do a Layer Via Copy, which should now give you a layer with just the selection you made and the rest transparent. Above this new layer, create a Selective Color Adjustment Layer - don't worry about changing the parameters for this layer at this time. Now create a clipping mask of the Layer created VIa Copy to the Adjustment Layer you just created. If you don't know how to do this, I suggest using Photoshop Help on "Clipping Mask". Now go back to the Adjustment Layer and set the White's parameters to be the basic color you want the sky. You should se it change the sky as you adjust the colors. Finally, you can select the Linear Gradient Tool, and Drag from the top of the Adjustment Layer's layer mask to towards the bottom (hold the shift key will keep the line you are drawing perfectly vertical if so desired). When you let go of the mouse, you will have created a gradient in the mask, and you should have a gradient sky. You can use the Layers command on the layer mask to further adjust the sky gradient. I hope you followed that. If not, PM me 
=Ed =
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