Napolean Wrasse 4 Ways

Hey guys, I have never tweaked the color in lightroom before but last night I start playing with them.. and had a lot of fun. I think I am going to go with a more subdued look when I make the final print for a friend but let me know which version of this you like. Also, I would like som advice about the shadow from his fin. I was thinking about darkening the exposure around the shadow to make it seem like the shadow extends down his body even further. I am not sure I like that little sliver of his body that is still lit well (between the shadow and the blackness of the surroundings). If you notice in the B&W version I totally blotted it out.

I will also upload the non-tweaked version once I get home so you can compare.

_MG_0162-Edit-5 by I(heart)Fish, on Flickr

_MG_0162-Edit-5-2 by I(heart)Fish, on Flickr

_MG_0162-Edit-5-3 by I(heart)Fish, on Flickr

_MG_0162-Edit-5-4 by I(heart)Fish, on Flickr

Thanks,

J

Hi J,

I'm liking the bluer version of the -2 version but I've never seen this beautiful fish in the wild so I'm not sure what the "real" colors are. I'm also wondering if you tried the adjustment brush on the black of the fin shadow and thought about pulling it the other way. (Trying to lighten it just a touch with local exposure control)

I think you'll find that you'll want to tweak the colors and especially brightness again when you go to print it.

Beautiful image!

Cheers,

Steve

Lovely photo. The third 'greener' version matches the colors of the wrasse I have seen and its the one I like the most.

I understand your opinion on the sliver of fish that is lit. I would lighten the fin shadow to bring it closer to the overall fish exposure and see how it looks. The black and white one looks a bit like someone took a bite out of the fish to me. But I am certainly no expert.

i have a napoleon wrasse image taken a few years back on way to blue corner wall in palau --image had little or no adjustments--it is an abstract face shot mostly of mouth, jaw, eye, and hump-so lacks rest of body for possible variable colorations--he was right in my face- all in all very blue with green markings-

i don't see quite how to post it here to compare-

so, my question is: are all nap wrasses of similar tones? my guy is very different from your image --yours has much more green and is darker--i would really like your edit 2 if it was brightened-i remember this fish as very energetic and bright --yours has a different feel, rather large, slow perhaps, and subdued

-it is a lovely image-majestic animal

my post does not relate to how to tweak in lightroom but rather when tweaking one must remember the true colors and that's something i oft question myself about--how is it possible to recall exactness following the dive/shot unless same species are all documented to have the same color values?

when it gets to be contest time or to print for a friend or a gallery shouldn't the colors reflect the animal in best exposed circumstances? how do we know when we are giving the best representation?

this is a topic that film with proper lighting gave me a definite--i felt more sure that i wasn't enhancing an image-i struggle with software adjustments

i will follow comments directed to your inquiry

2 hr later EDIT: pls edit my entry as i just noticed my monitor was turned all the way down-oops-one of my cat's fav thing to do-step on strategic keys--edit 2 is still my choice and much brighter and closer in tone to my nap wrasse face now!

Image No. 2 looks the most natural to me - but I am no expert in Napolean Wrasse.

I struggle with color correction and exposure correction all the time, so I hope the above helps.

Steve

Number 2 for me as well. I didn't like the blotted out part of the B&W version, that's just me though. I like Steve Williams idea of trying to lighten the fin shadow with a local correction, even if it's only slightly.

Thanks for all of the feedback. To be candid, I wasn't going with for a true representation of a Napoleon... I kind of saw it as a way to share a fun little exercise in color. Almost like Andy Warhol and his Campbell Soup prints in different colors.

And I was happy to get the response that I did. I do like the -2 image but I don't like his lips so much. And the pattern going down his face is has become so sharp that it is confusing.

Steve - good idea about lightening the shadow. I am afraid that some parts are so darkened that the resolution is not the best. Also, it is hard with that brush to get the light even. I will do some work and see what I come up with. I normally like directional lighting but if that shadow weren't there then the photo would be much* better.

Here is what the original (with a little added saturation but no other color manipulation) looks like:

_MG_0162-Edit-5.jpg by I(heart)Fish, on Flickr

Hi J,

There is still quite a bit of detail left in the shadow behind the fin even on the jpeg file you have up on Flickr. I bet if you go back to the raw file you could pull some of that out.

A 20 sec rough attempt using the adjustment brush with the auto mask turned on. Exposure +1 in the fin area

Have fun with it.

Steve

image 2 and i like the B&W version... i like the details that it picks out in the markings....

just my 2 fils...

I like the top image. The blue cast is interesting as it emphasises the markings: Napoleon wrasse are not so blue in real life:

Tim

I like the top image. The blue cast is interesting as it emphasises the markings: Napoleon wrasse are not so blue in real life:

 

 

Tim

 

Lovely angle in the photo!

The colours of any fish look different in the night.

Living here in S/E Queensland and having seen them regularly(one I see is approx. 1.8m long ), here they do have blue heads (the larger fish) and in certain light conditions the whole body looks blue almost- I can never get close enough to them for a good photo as they used to be hunted by spear-fishermen where I dive and are extremely fearful of divers(maybe if the area gets better policing it might change in the future as they have become a protected species-humphead wrasse). I don't chase them when I see them, I am trying to see if I can get closer then 15m which is my PB so far- up further in the large protection zones you can pat them, they have memories like an elephant and life span too!