{"id":6979,"date":"2011-09-28T11:22:09","date_gmt":"2011-09-28T15:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=6979"},"modified":"2011-10-12T14:19:46","modified_gmt":"2011-10-12T18:19:46","slug":"rattler-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2011\/09\/28\/rattler-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Rattler Options!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Here I started with Fractalius’s Rounded pre-set on its own layer and did lots of fine-tuning to get the look that I wanted. The image was then tweaked in Photoshop. The snake’s original eyes were revealed by painting away the Layer mask that I created (on the Fract layer). With my Layer Masks for Dummies technique you reveal when working on a regular Layer mask by hitting B\/D. Layer Masks for Dummies is just a small section in the amazing Digital Basics<\/a> File that includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips, and free updates for as long as I can press the shutter button. <\/p>\n

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Rattler Options!<\/h3>\n

In Watch Your Step<\/a> the consensus was pretty much 1, 2, 3. I agree right down the line. For today’s post I created two different versions using Redfield’s Fractalius plug-in. I run it in a 32-bit version of CS-5; it also runs in CS-3 and CS-4. I will present the original at the end of today’s post. The question of course remains the same: which do you like best, and why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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With this one I started with Fractalius’s Glow 100 pre-set on its own layer and again did lots of fine-tuning to get the look that I wanted. The image was then tweaked in Photoshop. The original snake’s eyes were revealed by painting away the Layer mask that I created (on the Fract layer). With my Layer Masks for Dummies technique you reveal when working on a regular Layer mask by hitting B\/D. Layer Masks for Dummies is just a small section in the amazing Digital Basics<\/a> File that includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips, and free updates for as long as I can press the shutter button.<\/p>\n

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

If you would like to join the Fracting fun, please click here<\/a> to purchase (only $39.90). It is easy to learn and easy to use. And tons of fun. See you in BPN’s Out of the Box forum. Be sure to check out Denise Ippolito’s Fractalius Gallery here<\/a> and her free Fractalius tutorial here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f\/5.6L IS lens<\/a>, a 25mm Extension tube<\/a>, the 1.4X III TC<\/a>, and the EOS-1D Mark IV<\/a>. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +2\/3: 1\/60 sec. at f\/5.6 in Manual mode. I placed the tube on the lens and the TC on the camera for a bit of extra close focus but doing it that way you lose AF so I needed to focus manually. That is one of the zillions of lessons in The Art of Bird Photography II<\/a> (916 pages, 900+ images on CD only.)<\/p>\n

Lens\/TC\/Camera Body Micro-Adjustment:<\/a> 0. <\/p>\n

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Which Rattler Image Do You Like Best? And Why?<\/h3>\n

Please do leave a comment and let us know which image you like best: Rounded Fract, Glow 100 Fract, or the traditional image. And let us know why. <\/p>\n

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here<\/a> for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools<\/a> valued in excess of $20,000. Click here<\/a> to visit the competition home page. <\/p>\n

Shopper’s Guide<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens.<\/a> Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
\nCanon 1.4X III Teleconverter<\/a>. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
\nCanon EF 25mm Extension tube<\/a>. I am never out without one of these in my vest; it allows for closer focus in a variety of situations.
\nCanon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body.<\/a> My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies. <\/p>\n

And from the BAA On-line Store:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

LensCoats<\/a>. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
\nLegCoat Tripod Leg Covers.<\/a> I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders \ud83d\ude42
\nGitzo GT3530LS Tripod.<\/a> This one will last you a lifetime.
\nMongoose M3.6 Tripod Head.<\/a> Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head<\/a>.
\nCR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800<\/a>. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
\n Double Bubble Level.<\/a> You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
\nBe sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here<\/a>.
\nThe Lens Align Mark II.<\/a> I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.<\/a>
\nCanon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide<\/a>. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Here I started with Fractalius’s Rounded pre-set on its own layer and did lots of fine-tuning to get the look that I wanted. The image was then tweaked in Photoshop. The snake’s original eyes were revealed by painting away the Layer mask that I created (on the Fract layer). With my Layer Masks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[90,5,113,15,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-90","category-educational","category-fractalius","category-photoshop-tips","category-tips","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6979\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}