@nanalisarocks
He was REALLY close! Afterwards, I read on the nature preserve's website that this guy has been coming up to the windows and pecking at them so often that they've had to replace the windows!
is the window smudge that little squarish, off kilter bit below the beak? I'm not really seeing smudges. It is possible to get more dynamic lighting from the pic in post process, especially if you shot in RAW. but being that it was shot with a coolpix, I imagine you don't have the RAW option
The spot healing brush on the bid will get rid of numerous spots on the bird. The others don't matter much. Adjust the exposure and contrast to spread out the gamut, and use Shadow Recovery to get the bird detail showing nicely. A small local adjustment on the eye to increase the exposure a stop works well. Unfortunately, the verticals can't be corrected without the bird running out of the frame.
You'll find that generally, bad exposure, tone, color and contrast can all be significantly adjusted. Spots can be cloned out. Crop and rotation can fix verticals. What can't be fixed are two big things that you have to get right when you shoot. Focus and really bad exposure that blows the highlights, especially if you only have a jpeg. Even with small jpegs, there is usually something in the deep shadows that can be brought back.
Good luck with Ps Elements. It can make a world of difference to your images. And if you can, do try to shoot raw if you intend to adjust or correct in post.
@frankhymus
Thanks Frank! I was more annoyed with the smudging to the left and under the beak than on the bird himself. I'll have to do some more googling on the Shadow Recovery as a quick search did not give me any information and I'm not familiar with that function.
Unfortunately with a Nikon Coolpix, shooting raw is not possible.
March 1st, 2014
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He was REALLY close! Afterwards, I read on the nature preserve's website that this guy has been coming up to the windows and pecking at them so often that they've had to replace the windows!
Nope, no raw option sadly. I see smudges all down the left side starting under the beak.
The spot healing brush on the bid will get rid of numerous spots on the bird. The others don't matter much. Adjust the exposure and contrast to spread out the gamut, and use Shadow Recovery to get the bird detail showing nicely. A small local adjustment on the eye to increase the exposure a stop works well. Unfortunately, the verticals can't be corrected without the bird running out of the frame.
You'll find that generally, bad exposure, tone, color and contrast can all be significantly adjusted. Spots can be cloned out. Crop and rotation can fix verticals. What can't be fixed are two big things that you have to get right when you shoot. Focus and really bad exposure that blows the highlights, especially if you only have a jpeg. Even with small jpegs, there is usually something in the deep shadows that can be brought back.
Good luck with Ps Elements. It can make a world of difference to your images. And if you can, do try to shoot raw if you intend to adjust or correct in post.
Thanks Frank! I was more annoyed with the smudging to the left and under the beak than on the bird himself. I'll have to do some more googling on the Shadow Recovery as a quick search did not give me any information and I'm not familiar with that function.
Unfortunately with a Nikon Coolpix, shooting raw is not possible.