ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Sunday 14 June 2015

I GOT A PICTURE. (14/06/15)

It’s turned out cool and sunny this afternoon. I have a young family of Yellowhammers cleaning up under the feeder but they have inbuilt camera identification radar and fly away before I can get a snap.

I have spent hours masking and tracking masks in Blender to try and isolate the poppies. It is going to be a frame at a time job as the mask won’t fit the poppy as it tilts and twirls in the breeze. I’ll keep going with it as I’m learning and it will make a ten second sequence in an Armistice Day video. It is extremely time consuming and I find it very complicated. The new Blender mask is identical to the one in After Effects and is a dream to use. Well worth a look for those that like masking. You just wander round and click somewhere close then it gives control handles just like a Bezier curve but with the advantage that one can feather and expand or contract the mask once it is complete. I got the gist of it in an hour and another day and I’ll be a fluent Blender, masker, bodger.

_MG_3765

It has turned cool. Here is the naughty crow that taps on the van door for a bit of banana or apple. He’s all fluffed up but still watching me for a bit of anything I may have to eat.

_MG_3772

I’m really pleased I managed to catch this. They are a grand looking bird even if the top of it’s head is a bit blown.

14-06-2015 08-49-42

Is this our dimwit, immoral leader moonlighting on a Travel Lodge video?

Have a good week whatever you are up to.

37 comments:

  1. Couple of good bird shots Adrian; especially like that Crow.

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    1. Keith the crow is a bad bird. I left three hens eggs on the gate post and it stole one and broke another. I'm going to have to have words with the little blighter.

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  2. Great shots Adrian. Funny that, I thought that muppet looked identical to the person you mention this post too.

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    1. Yes it's Dithery all right. I bet the artist will be on the dole.

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  3. Nice bird shots, especially the second one. Have great Sunday.

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  4. Nice photo of the Yellowhammer, i have not seen one for years.


    peter

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    1. Peter, they do seem to be rare but I'm lucky there are at least four here and I suspect more.

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  5. The yellowhammer even looks like a scavenger with its motley colouring.

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    1. Carol, it is a songbird or supposed to be. I've not heard it sing. This is a male one.

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  6. Enjoyed these... And your comments, as usual.

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    1. Bill, I was a bit short of copy today so thank you.

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  7. I really enjoyed your bird photography. Especially the first shot with the great colors in the background.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. The colours are a gradient. He needed brightening up on a dark wet morning.

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  8. Must be an unbirthday what with two birds waiting for you to photograph them. Great to see a Yellowhammer in the clear.

    It must be Dithery, same bland soft head full of woolly stuffing wondering which donor with a bulging brown envelope must be knighted next. We can but hope the Queen's sword arm is getting shaky in her old age.

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    1. John, I still have a buzzard and a goldcrest that need a snap.
      It is Dithery, no doubt about it but Travel Lodge are denying it.

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  9. Nice bird photos! Your last shot made me laugh! :)

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    1. Thanks Linda, I strongly suspect that somebody will be looking for a new job this morning. I love it when folk sneak stuff like this under the radar.

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  10. The sky looks gorgeous behind the crow Adrian, sadly Yellowhammers are as gorgeous as they're skittish.

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    1. Douglas, The sky was grey,I popped a gradient on it and masked the crow. He spends half the day watching me. I really want the yellow hammer sitting singing as buntings are supposed to do. Awkward bird.

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  11. You are preaching to the unconverted. some day tell us what blender is and explain how it works. then tell us what masking is. You do some wonderful things with these programs. You spend time figuring out how they work. I admire you for your persistance.

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    1. Red, this is what Blender is

      BLENDER

      It's open source software so free. Give it a go but it isn't for the faint of heart.
      Gimp is another open source image manipulation programme, here is what Gimp does which is pretty much what Photoshop does.

      GIMP

      Happy studying.

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  12. No bird can give "the evils" like a crow can and he sure had his eyes on you! I think he's beautiful if a bit menacing.

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  13. That Crow sure has his eye on YOU! Better watch out. Love the Yellowhammer.

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    1. Margaret, it tends to follow me around.

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  14. Crows are cleverer than most people think. They have attitude and the ability to improvise. If there was a school for garden birds, crows would be in the top set while wood pigeons would be in the duggies' class.

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    1. YP, you are correct but pheasants make pigeons look intelligent.

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  15. The Naughty Crow is a very nice photo.

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  16. Adrian,
    The crow in your photo is irresistible - that bird brings a smile. I have a poet friend who has some very funny and affectionate poems about crows - would it be all right if I were to forward your photo to him? Better still would be to have a photo in hand - could I buy a photo from you? I will do some research and get you a few of Cooley's poems if you would like. Pesky though they may be, crows are birds that we can actually have relationships with. My Dad used to enjoy telling us a story about a crow that someone had trained to say a few words. I cheered one on the other day when I was on a mission to annoy some grackles. I have a single fish an a barrel, and the those birds are after it. They harass the sparrows, but sparrows, bless them, have staying power; the chick-a-dees, junkos, and finches have all moved away. Annoy the grackles, I did, and they made so much noise that they attracted the attention of a crow who flew in mafia style, and cleared off an entire flock of the lesser mafia on a single pass. One flock remains. . ..
    Have a good week.
    Take care,
    McGregor

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    1. Mcgregor, feel free. If you want one to print let me know what size and Ill process one at 220 px/inch and sharpen for your printer. It's all part of the service and is free.

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    2. PS. forgot to say yes send me a link to the poems. My e-mail is just under the header where it says ADRIAN.

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  17. Replies
    1. Adam, it looks okay with a gradient behind it.

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