What’s Your Preference?

Statto · #1 (**permalink**) 01-12-2010, 02:27 AM

Cheers
Statto

Sony A200
Kit lens (18 to 70mm)
70mm @ f/8 for 1/500s
ISO 200

zona5101 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-12-2010, 02:28 AM

great shot. I like how you framed it.

Statto · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2010, 02:33 AM

Thanks, I did a bit of cropping

The only thing I dont like is the blue bin sticking out from behind the tree in the middle of the shot
Unfortunately Im a beginner at all this so Im not good enough at PhotoShop to get rid of said bin, but I will be, one day!

Statto

legoman_iac · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2010, 04:17 AM

Nice shot/profile view ... long time happy snapper, new time member.

Great angle/cute squirrel ... looks like he's cold and wearing a winter fur, bahaha.

Although what I try to do when shooting wildlife (that isn't venomous), is to take the shot like you have, then slowly and quietly move forward ... take another shot ... move forward again and again until you get really close to the subject.

If you're new to Photoshop, the most daunting thing I found was getting my head around using layers ... everything else comes later. Try and watch some tutorials, see how people work and play around with your files. If you work with layers in a 'non-destructive' way to your original image it keeps things easy to undo/adjust.

Before you get carried away and try every tool available, highly recommended as some things don't work as you'd expect them to, try the following to get rid of the bin:

1- In Layer Window > New Layer (F7)
2- On this 'empty' layer, select the clone tool (keyboard shortcut 's')
3- Ensure you are sampleing 'Current Layer & Below', from the sample drop down at the top, this way you will 'paint' (clone) the image onto a separate layer without affecting your source material
3- Alt-left click near the bin to start 'cloning' and just paint with the brush. Adjust the size and softness of the brush and experiment cloning ... feel free to clone too much can always delete later as your're only working on this overlaid layer
4- Select the eraser tool and 'erase' (keyboard shortcut 'e') the areas that aren't needed
5- Select the move tool, keyboard shortcut 'v', and position your cloned patch work over the bin, if it needs postioning.

Hope this helps, it's a pretty rough overview but should help you to get started. Ofcourse some people I know don't like photoshopping images ... so would run around and physically move the bin so it's all good in frame, but I'm lazy and prefer to 'fix it in post'.