Bruce Hartsell
Shari Rodgers won first place in the Photograph Club’s Quarterly Challenge on the theme Color with Cotton Candy Flamingo, an image captured in Florida. She described her process: “Even with the bright pink colors, it didn’t feel right. I decided to add multi–color feathers and do a varied color backdrop. I worked the photo in Photoshop using the brush tool, changing opacity and changing colors of each feather along the body. I also added multi colors along the neck and enhanced the head area as well. I used dodge and burn to create a little depth and Color EFex Pro to enhance the overall photo.” Nikon D500, 270 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 sec, ISO 100, exp -1.
Shari also won second place with Polly Want A Cracker, another image captured in Florida. She said she used Photoshop to crop the photo for a detailed head shot. She further commented, “I wanted the parrot to stand out, so I added a black background. From there I added texture into the photo to enhance the feathers and used Color EFex Pro to bring the colors out and placed a little blur around the edges of the parrot to help blend into the background. I also used dodge and burn to create depth in the face.” Nikon D500, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 sec, ISO 320.
Monte Hudson won third place with Bumble Bee and Thistle, taken in a riparian area of Prescott. Monte commented, “It’s always an added bonus when you are able to capture a bee in a flower photograph to add interest as well as, in this case, more color to satisfy the assignment, “color.” Post processing was cropping and sharpening.” Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec, ISO 32.
The Photography Club of Quail Creek holds a quarterly Photo Challenge, and winners are selected by a vote of club members. Additional information is available at www.pcqc.org. Membership is open to all Quail Creek residents.