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One Last Look

Posted by
Lee (Fort Frances Ontario, Canada) on 11 April 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

I had a few moments to goof around. I grabbed a recently taken shot and played a little with it. I don't normally alter my images (except for SillyTuesdays). Just a little enhancing and edge definition. Let me know what you think.

Two weeks ago there was still a multitude of these birds around here. Their numbers seem to be diminishing as springs draws near. This bird was perched looking down on the feeder, probably thinking, do I really want to leave this feast of seed behind and start heading north for the summer? Slowly they disappear as the northward migration happens and the summer birds fill in behind. The cycle repeats itself every spring and fall.

Thank you for visiting my site. I consider myself to be lucky living where I do. Everyday I wake up to a wealth of interesting visual scenarios. Most of my pictures are Wildlife and Nature taken from around the area. The area specifically being Fort Frances Ontario on beautiful Rainy Lake. Feel free to comment on what you see. I look forward to hearing from you. If you like what you see, please rate it. Better yet, bookmark the site and drop back often. I will be posting daily.
All images are copyrighted by Lee Oelke Photography. They cannot be reproduced, electronically, or by printing without my written consent. Should you be interested in any of my images, please contact me.

Elora from Genoa, Italy

Not bad. Though you clearly see it's been altered. It does add a bit to your title though. It kind of gives the impression that the pull of nature is drawing the bird away, but the pull of his stomach makes him want to stay!

11 Apr 2009 8:32am

@Elora: Thank you Elora. I'm not sure what I was trying to accomplish here.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Remarkable image, dreamy beautiful both the way you presented it, and that incredible bokeh!

11 Apr 2009 9:10am

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine.

"Marie" :-) from perth, Australia

Hi Lee, I love the effects used here, it really catches my eye.... such a lovely photo.

11 Apr 2009 11:41am

@"Marie" :-): Thnak you very much Marie.

Marion from Cincinnati, United States

Lee, I really like the radiant effect too. it looks great - makes it very interesting. At first the first quick glance, my mind did not notice the processing - you made it very subtle! Great job! I like it. :)

11 Apr 2009 12:07pm

@Marion: Until you look at it closely you cannot see the edge definition. Thank you very much Marion.

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Lovely effect, very unusual with bird's shots.

11 Apr 2009 12:15pm

@Evelyne Dubos: It is a different appraoch. Thank you Evelyne.

Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada

Well done Lee! A very interesting; but effective PP treatment. Bravo! ;-)

11 Apr 2009 12:32pm

@Eric Cousineau: Thank you Eric.

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Five stars! This is a stunning composition! I don't know how you got that motion effect in the background, but it works so well. Bravo!

11 Apr 2009 12:36pm

@bluechameleon: Thanks Sharon. A feathered selection with radial blur on a seperate layer.

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Superb selective focus and detail. Excellent.

11 Apr 2009 12:37pm

@john4jack: Thank you Jack.

Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland

The bird's feathers and the branch are so similar - could be camouflage! Lovely shot of a very pretty little bird.

11 Apr 2009 1:03pm

@Sarah: You are right, Thank you Sarah.

Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States

Super shot, Lee. I love the soft bokeh; and this bird is so sharp and detailed sitting there meditating on his branch. Definite keeper shot.

11 Apr 2009 1:21pm

@Viewfinder: Many thanks. I was thinking of framing this one.

Ajay from Pune, India

I love it. I love the fact how you've put the focus on the bird and made rest of the shot blurred. Simply amazing.

11 Apr 2009 1:39pm

@Ajay: Thanks Ajay.

EYES WIDE SHUT from The library of my soul, United Kingdom

Oh this is superb, Lee. A great effect and beautifully presented

11 Apr 2009 1:54pm

@EYES WIDE SHUT: Greatly appreciated Paul.

Ca†≈ from Ouchy, Switzerland

Amazing !
This bird seemes to be a part of this tree.
Wonderfull sensation beetwin the bird and the mouvement behind.
We can feel his "pause" on migration.

11 Apr 2009 1:59pm

@Ca†≈: Thank you. I just could not get by the look. The birb was central, but the look. I did what I could.

Veronique from Sarrouilles, France

yes....euh....it's like imitation from the bird (mimétisme in french). Not fond of this one but I'm not in alteration in general.

11 Apr 2009 2:21pm

@Veronique: Normally I do not alter my shots. When I do, it is obvious. I just had some time on my hands. Thank you for the constructive criticism.

Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States

I do like the radiant effect, but the background somehow competes for my attention with the little bird, maybe if the background was not so bright? On examining what my eye keeps being drawn to - it is not the green color in the background, but the yellow diagonal that is in the center of the frame that keeps grabbing my attention.

11 Apr 2009 2:31pm

@Tracy: After I was finished and saved the result I noticed the same thing. It is a light coloured branch. And yes it is distracting, Thank you Tracy for your openess.

mats from Texas, United States

Sometimes you have to play around your images once in a while to see what you can do other than what's infront of you. And the PP you've done here is brilliant, the blur gives the bird more attention. blah-blah-blah... in short, I like it!

Did you notice that the bird's coat looks like the branches? way to camouflaged huh, but still that lens found him :-)

11 Apr 2009 4:20pm

@mats: Thanks Mats. Yes I did notice the feathers and branch were the same colour and texture. It still did stand out though.

LauraS from Chico, United States

Wow! I am impressed with this. Love how it really helps the viewer see the bird.

11 Apr 2009 4:31pm

@LauraS: Thanks Laura. I did wish for the bird to be the central focal point.

eva from Rouen, France

OOOOOOOOh !

11 Apr 2009 5:21pm

Dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States

Great processing. Like the angle at which you captured the bird.

11 Apr 2009 8:49pm

@Dogilicious: Thank you very much.

Shar from Regina, SK, Canada

Wow, another great shot! The use of vignetting works well here!

12 Apr 2009 12:10am

@Shar: Thanks Shar.

Ben from Germany

great... the processing is very nice...

12 Apr 2009 2:57pm

@Ben: Thanks Ben

Denise from Perry, United States

The processing is a neat effect, nice!

12 Apr 2009 7:41pm

@Denise: Thank you Denise.

jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand

I love it great processing

12 Apr 2009 10:02pm

@jamesy: Thank you Debbie.

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Very interesting post editing! I like it!

13 Apr 2009 1:14am

@Magda: Thank you very much.

Photosanity from Folsom, United States

Your processing paid off - a gorgeous result!

13 Apr 2009 4:42am

@Photosanity: Many thanks.