The old Pink and Grey Galah

[Ralph]

I took this shot with the Nikon P900 and its quite new to me and I know the day was grey here and it made it a little hard to get the full details due to the greys being quite close.
I had a look this morning on how to change the back ground and I think it worked out okay.
But thats just me. I do know not everyone will like these but that is fine.

This is the original shot

My personal favourite

In the Grape Vines

And a sky bound one.

[wigz]

Hi Arthur, that's a nice shot showing the spread wings and detail looks good. The head, left wing and part of body are a bit dark though. Have you tried lightening these areas a little - if you haven't, it would be worth a shot. Good job with the different backgrounds. I like the sky or the original myself.

[Toddyh]

Agree with Alan. I think lightening this would even make the original pop a little.

[HansE]

Sky shot for me as well. A busy background seems to reduce the attention you give the main interest.

[Ralph]

Listen to what was said and lightened up the original image and its as far as I am willing to take it..
But thank your al for your input to this.

Does this lessen the business to this image or more to go.

[HansE]

Do you mind if people play around with your image. There are people here who take great delight in showing you other possiblities.

[wigz]

Looking at this again, I'm wondering if there is something else going on here rather than just a bit of underexposure in the shadows. The darker areas of pink and grey look a bit too black. Was an effect applied or perhaps some contrast and darkening.

[HansE]

I'm not sure as to how much Arther would like us to discuss but the bird does not look as good in the grey picture as in the other shots. Lacking a bit of sharpness and depth of colour.

[Isac]

I think just a shadows adjustment on the bird in Photoshop was all that was required Arthur. The added backgrounds were OK for light. As the light is coming from the behind the bird perhaps a horizontal flip of the backgrounds on the Vines and the Blue Sky would sit better for me. Did you use a cutout and layers to replace the background? have you tried just a dark or black background, that would make it pop - but that's just me - I can be a bit weird sometimes.

[Ralph]

I am working with a newish camera to me and I have got things to learn about it.
I honestly prefer my shots not to be played with as at the time of posting I thought them to be okay. I did play with them in photoshop.
If I went one way the back on the wings came on but the other way the light coming in on the back made the back close enough disappears.
What I done on this was the very 1st time I had done this and I have no idea why I wait this long to learn it.
So I don't want people doing things to them, I don't mind being told where its wrong.
Another honesty thing these don't look as dark on my laptop from my files but on the forum they have come out a little darker than even I like.
Not sure why. I'm sorry if this is coming over a little over the top, as I like to learn but I am slow on the pick up due to medical reasons.

[Isac]

Very good explanation Arthur. Thanks for responding. My CC was purely to give you a helping hand, that's why I asked about the cutout and layers. It's just my opinion but when you put in a new background, it's important to get the light source coming from the same direction as the original photo. I think you've done a fantastic job with your edits !! Sometimes laptops don't do justice to photos for some reason. Keep playing and learning Arthur

[Ironwood]

Hi Arthur, welcome to the forum. I like what you have done with the different backgrounds, I haven’t learnt how to do this yet.
I think the 2nd ones where you reduced the shadows under the wings, look better, you just have to find that balance point, where it looks right to you.