First Edit Attempt

[Sir-diealot]

So this is my first real edit attempt with this new program, I am hoping that y'all can tell me how I did please. I am not trying to change anything, just bring what is available in a photo out into the open. I think the body may be to light in color, I was trying to bring out the colors in the chest.

Original


Edit

[Happy]

I like the top one best. And it looks like he is smoking a cigarette. Pretty cool

[CALLM2U]

The edited version is a little strong on the saturation and a little too warm. 

One of the biggest things to keep in mind with photo editing is monitor calibration.  There are several tools out there you can use, but no two monitors are the same.   

Assuming you shot this in RAW, I would start with lightening the shadows to pull out some of the detail in his underbody, pull down the highlights in the grass some.  It doesn't look like his back is blown out so you may have to mask it if it's not in a similar range to the grass.  And then maybe play with clarity a little.  I always try to match the color that was present at the time, so not sure about WB, but would just try to match that as much as possible.   

I do appreciate your application of the rule of 3rds, but you could probably shrink the open space a little too. 

I like where you're going though-keep at it!

[tad1]

They both look fantastic! Could flip a coin.
Sorry, I'm not much help!
   JT

[3bailey3]

Steve I like the first one better, grass looks too yellow in second pic, bird looks great in both.

[Sir-diealot]

I like the top one best. And it looks like he is smoking a cigarette. Pretty cool

As he brought his head up food was dropping from his mouth and he still had that in there, I like that myself.

They both look fantastic! Could flip a coin.
Sorry, I'm not much help!
   JT

Thanks for the compliment I appreciate the support.

The edited version is a little strong on the saturation and a little too warm. 

One of the biggest things to keep in mind with photo editing is monitor calibration.  There are several tools out there you can use, but no two monitors are the same.   

Assuming you shot this in RAW, I would start with lightening the shadows to pull out some of the detail in his underbody, pull down the highlights in the grass some.  It doesn't look like his back is blown out so you may have to mask it if it's not in a similar range to the grass.  And then maybe play with clarity a little.  I always try to match the color that was present at the time, so not sure about WB, but would just try to match that as much as possible.   

I do appreciate your application of the rule of 3rds, but you could probably shrink the open space a little too. 

I like where you're going though-keep at it!

Thank you, I had masked the turkey so I am surprised the grass changed color the way it did and it is what I dislike the most in the picture. I am also trying to bring out the  iridescence (Man did I spell that word wrong) colors on his chest feathers that are clearly there. I shoot everything in both RAW and j.peg His back did look better in the program but it was lost when I transferred it to the program somehow. I very much appreciate the advise. These are programs I just got two days ago, I have a lot to learn with them.

Steve I like the first one better, grass looks too yellow in second pic, bird looks great in both.

Thank you, I completely agree with the grass comment.

[fishr64]

I agree, I think the first picture looks better overall, but you can see more colors in the upper part of the breast feathers, which sounds like what you were trying to get.

Nice picture Sir!

[Sir-diealot]

I agree, I think the first picture looks better overall, but you can see more colors in the upper part of the breast feathers, which sounds like what you were trying to get.

Nice picture Sir!

Thanks, just like everything in life there is a learning curve. That is indeed what I was going for.

Sent from my moto g pure using Tapatalk

[CALLM2U]

Thank you, I had masked the turkey so I am surprised the grass changed color the way it did and it is what I dislike the most in the picture.

With high sun, you will get a wide dynamic range.  No way around it.  Masks are the best way to bring them all closer in line to what the human eye can compute.  I've used as many as 8 masks on one image just due to all the variances.   It takes time, but well worth it in the end.   Keep at it!