Photography question

[callmeCrazyButt]

I was taking pictures at the park w/ Amber and some geese flew by. I was able to get a shot of them.
The first picture is not enhanced and the second obviously is.
My question...I want the geese to really stick out. My software won't quite allow me to fade any single thing out.
Does anybody know of any software that would allow me to do so?
Keep in mind....the cheaper the better. ;)
Thanks!!

[tigger_too_wooh]

Cool pictures!

No suggestions, because I'm not a photo guru, but I'll admire them for you!

[cybermom]

With Picassa II you can select a center of focus and blur the rest, but I don't know if it would work here because you need to have real definite lines around the geese and it just does a round circle.

[Ragnarok]

Butty...you just made me painfully homesick!! The geese were migrating into the Farm when I left and apparently are in full force. Can't wait to get home....I am stuck in LA's stupid airport with the dumbest people ever to evolve from a primate. Can't ask me any photography questions unless, it involves underwater photography. I cut people's head off in pictures on land! LOL

[Jimmy Higgins]

Well, to help the issue would have been to use a wide open aperture in order to limit to initial focus of the camera. Maybe your image incorporates that. As far as making the geese stick out... they would probably need to be in better focus to begin with. The geese are a tad bit blurred. Stupid Canadian blurring birds!

Otherwise, I'm helpless, as I try to take photos that require no photoshopping, hence I'm kinda useless when it comes to manipulating images.

[Scoopons]

mm.. I don't know if photoshop elements can do this.. but photoshop CS, you can definitely select the birds, or even the area around the birds and lighten or manipulate it. Photoshop can be either very expensive or very very inexpensive =P.. but that is up to you. Photoshop elements is definitely much more less expensive but I'm not sure of all the features.

[druvans]

Dowload GIMP for windows- You could use selective blur - or selective sharpen (using unsharp mask).

You could also try curves from Color menu -

[JerryP]

Gimp is free and does most anything you would ever want.

[daredevil]

Dag, Butty, leave it like it is...nothing wrong with the 2ond pic!

[callmeCrazyButt]

Thanks everyone!! Photography is definitely a passion of mine.

Butty...you just made me painfully homesick!! The geese were migrating into the Farm when I left and apparently are in full force. Can't wait to get home....I am stuck in LA's stupid airport with the dumbest people ever to evolve from a primate. Can't ask me any photography questions unless, it involves underwater photography. I cut people's head off in pictures on land! LOL

Welcome back, Rags!!I know you were on a mission, but I hope you had a great time while you were gone.

Well, to help the issue would have been to use a wide open aperture in order to limit to initial focus of the camera. Maybe your image incorporates that. As far as making the geese stick out... they would probably need to be in better focus to begin with. The geese are a tad bit blurred. Stupid Canadian blurring birds!

Otherwise, I'm helpless, as I try to take photos that require no photoshopping, hence I'm kinda useless when it comes to manipulating images.

Thanks anyways, Jimmy.
I only had a few chances at the geese, so I was very limited, plus it's not exactly like I can have them pose for me. That's what I love about moving subjects. They make you work for a good shot.
As far as equipment....I need some attachments. The camera I use is good enough for day to day pictures.
I try to never have to enhance a picture because it is such a pain in the butt uploading them (I usually take 100 pictures at any event), cropping, enhancing and naming them all. Sometimes it's crucial to enhance....that or a crummy pic can be lost altogether.
FYI I am still trying to upload pics from back in August to MySpace.
Thanks again everyone!!

[callmeCrazyButt]

This might be a better pic to play with, but I like the way it looks as is.

[JerryP]

This might be a better pic to play with, but I like the way it looks as is.

I think it would be better if the depth of field were a little less (fuzzier background like the other). The geese would really POP!

[callmeCrazyButt]

Thanks for your input Jerry!

I like the second one the way it is because the geese are in front of the water and you can actually see them w/ no difficulties.