Mallards Retreat

[JJthethird]

Before

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjthethird/495220242/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/495220242_de51ee4d4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mallard Ducks" /></a>

After

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjthethird/495220332/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/495220332_4799bcc7aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mallard Ducks edit" /></a>

I thought that desaturating everything except the ducks would make this rather dull shot a bit more bearable. How do you think it looks?

I probably should have cloned out the blades of grass in the foreground, but may do it later.

John.:)

[wulf]

It looks good. You could also try overlaying the original in the "colour" blending mode and reducing the opacity so that you get a hint of the original colours - colour on an almost desaturated background.

I wouldn't bother with removing the grass - it would be a lot of work and would leave the ducks floating on a very contextless surface. Sometimes a little bit of foreground "clutter" actually improves a shot.

Wulf

[JJthethird]

Thanks Wulf, I am fairly new to both photography and editing. I am learning by my mistakes, as you do, and so far havent tried to overlay a picture and wouldnt know where to start. As I say, I'm a total beginner!! Is there anywhere on this site that deals with all of the PP stuff in one place or is it scattered around a bit? I'm sure that Nicole could put me 5 or 6 links up!!LOL.

Well why didnt I just look in the appropriate section in the first place, should have known that Nicole had already posted some links.

Cheers, John.:)

[JJthethird]

Before

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjthethird/495220242/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/495220242_de51ee4d4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mallard Ducks" /></a>

After

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjthethird/495220332/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/495220332_4799bcc7aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mallard Ducks edit" /></a>

After advice

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjthethird/497653026/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/497653026_f227955aae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mallard Ducks 3" /></a>

I thought that desaturating everything except the ducks would make this rather dull shot a bit more bearable. How do you think it looks?

I probably should have cloned out the blades of grass in the foreground, but may do it later.

John.:)

I went through Nicoles links and found out how to do it, this is the result.

[wulf]

Well done. What do you think of the result (I like it!)?

Wulf

[JJthethird]

Well done. What do you think of the result (I like it!)?

Wulf

Yes, I like it better than the first edit. It brings out the colour of the birds but looks more natural. Thanks for the advice.

John.