Merging Yellowthroats

Gallery: AvianPosted June 2, 2010155 views6 comments

I have been shooting a lot of Common Yellowthroats lately, a favorite of mine. It isn't often that you can catch a pair in the same frame and when I do it's usually along with obstructing grasses and branches so I thought I would try and merge a pair captured separately and merge them. I would love to hear your comments on how this looks and what might have been handled better in the merge.

Larger image available

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.L IS USM + 1.4TC
F/5.6 1/250 ISO 500
auto window beanbag rest

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 2, 2010 at 10:40 PM

Craig, a cool look but (it's my opinion) this should really be posted in PhotoArt as it's a compilation with serious PS work involved.

- Luke

P.S. as for the image, I had a feeling something was a miss based on the location of the catchlight, and the haloing. That being said, this is way better than anything I could do with merging two photos and I like the creativity.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on June 2, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Thanks for your suggestions Luke.

NATE, if you see this and feel this one should be moved please feel free to move it. Craig

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on June 3, 2010 at 8:26 AM

Interesting to see the two birds together. Either in PhotoArt or here it is still a very nice image.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 3, 2010 at 11:36 AM

I assumed this was two separate images just from the thumbnail and before I read the details. It just looks like two separate images. The angle of the perches and the light/shadow direction are tipoffs.

The merge work is well done. I agree with Luke about this being better in Photo Art though.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Binda on June 3, 2010 at 2:40 PM

I think they look great together, congrats

Registered on September 8, 2007, 56 Posts, 326 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on June 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM

I agree with Richard, the one thing that gives it an unnatural look at first glance is the lighting direction/shadowing on the two images. Doesn't look quite right, even on the thumbnail.

Two very nice captures though. Getting male and female out in the open is nice.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments