I took what I think is a great picture today what do you think

[Hoogle]

I have edited it slightly obviously as it is selective colouring but the original is just as great in my eyes

[Paul]

It's a nice image mate, but the blurred out portions in my opinion don't really add to the image. Theres two differing areas of focal trickery that take you away from the main subject.
Maybe do a full water blur but only mildly not over do it.
Also, maybe a burn to the swans edges just to add a little definition to it, it looks stuck on to the back ground.

[Hoogle]

actually the blur is natural from using a telephoto zoom lense it was about 50 meters away from me here is the original (unedited) cant help the blur sorry


I am a big fan of selective colouring photography so I am aware most users will probably prefer this version but I have to follow my heart when it is personal taste lol

[Hoogle]

here is another 1

[Paul]

Mate i ain't one to shoot at people, especially ones that are better than me.
But the image looks 'doctored' sorry if that's harsh but i can see tell tale signs - things like poor cut out/edge definition, over sized pixels to main image, compared to rest of image pixel sizes?
I could be massively wrong here but this just looks doctored.
Apologies if i am wrong mate.

[Hoogle]

mmm i dont know if it is hair or should I say feathers or where it has blead a bit from either the colour enhancer from raw to jpeg I am going to have a look now

[Hoogle]

Mate i ain't one to shoot at people, especially ones that are better than me.
But the image looks 'doctored' sorry if that's harsh but i can see tell tale signs - things like poor cut out/edge definition, over sized pixels to main image, compared to rest of image pixel sizes?
I could be massively wrong here but this just looks doctored.
Apologies if i am wrong mate.

just looked on raw format and same thing is there on a 60mb file in my defence to the allegation it may be cut out do you think I am that good at cutting out semi transparant water drips (from beak) and various droplets around the body white feathers sticking up perfectly and yet cant manage a perfect straight black line with contrasting blue background

[Hoogle]

haha its the teeth I think we can see just googled image searched more swans lol


here is a close range 1 from google images

[Paul]

Like i said in my previous post 'hope i am wrong', just looked that way is all.

[Hoogle]

like I said colour enhancement from raw to jpeg black and white layer with colour painted in on beak but no cutting out backgrounds etc I wish I was that good but I think cutting out water droplets is near impossible but you pointed out a valid point and even made me look at it twice or 10 times lol as I was confused and was like wtf lol. its all good though is there such thing as the perfect picture probably not but hopefully 1 day I will take it