6 replies to this topic

[Liam]

Is there any way to make the background blue in a photo like this using CS5?

[meghann]

I can do it, but I use Paint Shop Pro.

[Doug Herr]

I'd try Select Color range, adjust hue.

[MrPC]

I agree with Doug, but you can do everything at least three different ways in Photoshop! Alternately, you could use the magic wand to select the whites, tweaking the settings of it to select exactly what you wanted, then use "Image", "adjustments", "replace color". I downloaded your photo and did some work with it and the most troubling thing about making the sky blue is the Spanish Moss. It's difficult to work with it because the edges of the moss fragments are blown out by overexposure. I ended up with a photo that you might call improved, but it was still not quite 'right'. Of course, that isn't your fault, if the exposure has been right for the moss, it would have been totally wrong for the bird.
To prevent that, I try hard to find an angle on the bird that places it in front of a darker background. Especially such a dark bird as this one.With a bright sky background you Inevitably get the colored fringes that you see in this photo - blue on the left and magenta on the right, and it's hard to correct for those. Photoshop Camera Raw has defringing capabilities and you can use it to correct that to a large extent, though.

[Liam]

Thanks guys! I read a very informative chapter on this. Here's my rookie attempt at this technique.

I could use a little work, but I think it's a relatively good start.

[MrPC]

Hey again! That's a great link you posted. Thanks! I think I've been to that site, but I didn't remember it. Bookmarked for future reference now.

And yes, I think you're off to a good start. As with everything worth doing, it's hard. Photoshop opens a million doors for you, but I've heard that even the most experienced Photoshop users admit they don't know all the capabilities of the software. Dig in, play hard, work hard, and it will reward you, though!

[canon eos]

Changing backgrounds and/or colours is not one of my strong points either! I use NIK Viveza.

Your reference to Bill Majoros and his 'tome' on bird photography is well received. It's one of the best and most complete you will find, and he has put a tremendous amount of effort and time into producing it. And incredibly it is free, albeit only online.

http://digitalbirdphotography.com/windows/cover.html