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Spirit Cranes


 
BetterPhoto.com All Time Best Photo Contest Editor's Pick BetterPhoto.com Photo Contest SECOND PLACE Winner   Spirit Cranes
Spirit Cranes
Cranes fighting as the sun sets over the bosque; two photos with cranes silhouetted using overlay mode in Photoshop; both images taken at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge; See photo discussion for details on how this was done; Feedback greatly appreciated! This is my first digital creation... Thanks to all who helped me make my idea a reality!

Pamela K

 
  Original of Cranes Fighting
Original of Cranes Fighting

Pamela K

 
  Original of Sunset
Original of Sunset

Pamela K

 
  Original selection of cranes
Original selection of cranes

Pamela K

 
  Crane with legs
Crane with legs

Pamela K

 
 
 

Pamela K
 

Ok, here's how it worked:
I started with a photo of two cranes fighting in the midst of a corn field surrounded by other cranes. I selected out just the two fighting cranes and put them on a green screen. The one on the right was missing his legs and belly because of other cranes that were in the way. I cut out the other crane's legs and used them to fix up the right-hand crane. Then I reduced the brightness and contrast to -100 and used levels to make the cranes black. I then used the overlay function to place the two cranes over the sunset photo.

The photos of my steps are attached.

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Phil Sauvey
  Pam,

I REALLY like your end result. I know you put lots of work into this photograph. I really like how it all blends together. Sure does not look like a "first" as it is very well done. I would be very proud of it!


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December 04, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Phillip! I really appreciate your imput!

The one posted here was not quite my first attempt at this look, I had to tweak it, but I've never done anything like this in Photoshop before... combining two totally different pictures to come up with something new. I've only done stuff where the instructions were all cut and dry, like a fake polaroid transfer.

Glad you liked it!

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Diane Dupuis
  Pam - the final result is great! Your hard work really paid off! Well done!
DDK


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December 04, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, DDK! I really appreciated all your feedback during the process!

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Barbara Kehoe
  It looks beautiful Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Barb!

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Sharon Day
  This turned out to be a masterpiece, Pam!!! It's beautiful and striking!


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December 04, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Sharon!!

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 
- Eric Highfield

BetterPhoto Member
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Eric Highfield's Gallery
  Not much more that I can say , except no matter what happens with this photo, I think it's a winner, and I think YOU'VE won a whole lot more through the process of creating it. Congratualtions!


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December 04, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Eric! I'm really pleased with how this turned out! Thanks for all your help! (And, yes, I definitely learned a lot!)

Pam


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December 04, 2004

 

Patricia A. Kuniega
  Exceptional work Pam! The final image is superb! Good luck with it in both venues!


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December 05, 2004

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Pat!!

Pam


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December 05, 2004

 

Sharon Day
  Congratulations big time, Pam!!! Fantastic finalist! Good luck next round!


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January 17, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Sharon!!!

Pam


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January 17, 2005

 

Kip T. Berger
  Congrats again Pam!!!


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January 18, 2005

 

Diane Dupuis
  Hooray Pam! All that hard work really paid off! COngrats!


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January 18, 2005

 

Darren K. Fisher
  Very creative job here, congrats and best of luck next round.


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January 18, 2005

 

Patricia A. Kuniega
  So great to see this here among the finalists, Pam! And to have experienced the process! Congrats and good luck!


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January 18, 2005

 

Paul Michko
  Congrats, Pamela.


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January 18, 2005

 

Karma Wilson
  I knew we'd see this one again. Congrats Pam!

Karma


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January 18, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Kip, Diane, Darren, Pat, Paul, and Karma!!!! Thanks for all your help guys!

Pam


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January 18, 2005

 

Barbara Kehoe
  Congratulations Pam


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January 18, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Barb!

Pam


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January 18, 2005

 

Debra Booth
  Wow! Fabulous finalist, Pam!


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January 18, 2005

 

Marilou Olejniczak
  Congratulations Pam! Beautiful workk!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Wally Orlowsky
  Congratulations on this awesome winner, Pam!


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January 20, 2005

 

Paul Michko
  Pamela, Congratulations on a terrific win.


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January 20, 2005

 

Janet Detota
  Way to go, Pam! Congratulations!!


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January 20, 2005

 

cj patterson
  CONGRATULATIONS PAM!!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Lisa Deaton
  Fantastic!!! Congrats on your win!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Sharon Day
  Fantastic image, Pam!!! Big congratulations!


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January 20, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Debra, Marilou, Wally, Paul, Janet, C.J., Lisa, and Sharon!!!!! I have brief email access and this was a great surprise!

Pam


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January 20, 2005

 

Audrea Telkamp
  Congratulations Pam!!!! Way To Go!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Julie Abston
  Congratulations, Pam!! This is a gorgeous image!!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Karma Wilson
  Congrats Pam! I remember this well.:-)


We're neighbors!

Karma


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January 20, 2005

 

Mellanie
  Congrats on this win, Pam!


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January 20, 2005

 

Wendy Stevenson
  Very cool composite Pam!! Congratulations on your win!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Debra Booth
  Congratulations, Pam!!


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January 20, 2005

 

Phil Sauvey
  Pam,

So neat to be part of watching this photo go from the very beginning to the gold! Congrats on a job well done and I know you put lots of work into this.


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January 20, 2005

 

Kip T. Berger
  Congratulations Pam! :)


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January 20, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Audrea, Julie, Karma, Mellanie, Wendy, Debra, Phil, and Kip!!!!

Pam


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January 21, 2005

 
- Eric Highfield

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Eric Highfield
Eric Highfield's Gallery
  A very BIG congratulations from me, Pam! I know you spent at least one sleepless night on it (maybe two?). I hope this is an omen...good luck with this image with the people at the Bosque!!!


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January 21, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Eric!! And thanks again for spending most of that sleepless night helping me out! Haven't heard from the Bosque yet...

Pam


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January 21, 2005

 

Diane Dupuis
  Congrats Pam on your well deserved win!! Your hard work really paid off!


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January 22, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Diane!!

Pam


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January 22, 2005

 

Leonard Pierce
  Congratulations on your Second Place win Pam!!!


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January 23, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Len!!!

Pam


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January 23, 2005

 

Laura Clay-Ballard
  This is a gorgeous photo! great job in ps!


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June 05, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Laura!!

Pam


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June 05, 2005

 
- Kay E. Mahoney

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Kay E. Mahoney
Kay E. Mahoney's Gallery
  Congratulations on you win. Beautiful picture. You have lots of beautiful pictures in yoe gallery. Love the final result.


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June 20, 2005

 

Pamela K
  Thank you very much, Kay!! I'm glad you enjoyed my gallery!

Pam


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June 20, 2005

 

Taylor
  That was very clever. Congratulations for the win.


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January 02, 2006

 

Linda L. Ruiz
  This is such a cool idea. I am going to have to try it. Awesome shot.


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June 07, 2007

 

Pamela K
  Thank you, Taylor and Linda!!

Pam


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June 08, 2007

 

Indrajit Hajra
  Magnificient job done pam...kudos to you.Great going..Congrats on your win.


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July 14, 2007

 
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