See..I Can Do It

Gavin Maginness

See..I Can Do It

This is my first attempt at Photo editing. A very kind friend on RB offered a few pointers and this was the result. Alex is about 5 months old here and is among the last photos I have of him. I had intended to upload his photos in chronological order but I wanted to share this one now.

Taken with a Canon EOS 35D and the standard 18-55mm lens.

Alex became my reason to get out of bed in the morning. I had been medically discharged after 34yrs in the military and was unable to continue working. I lived for my work because I enjoyed it so much, I loved being able to teach students, look after their needs, help them with personal problems and to pass on the knowledge I had accumulated over the years. I was an instructor at the ADFSC (Australian Defence Force School of Catering). Almost every day was a 12hr day or more.

Suddenly being unable to work any more destroyed my life, I felt useless, I was just taking up space, and had no real reason to continue living.

Alex changed all that, he took me from the depths of suicidal depression and gave me a new lease on life…..I now had a reason to live, to get up in the morning and look after my friend. I now had someone to teach and care for. I could play “Dad” and Teacher all over again…..It did not take long before this interaction became an essential part of both our days.

In less than a week this little man did what councilors and psychiatrists had been trying to do for 3 years….To say Alex had an impact on my life would be a massive understatement.






Mon 06-July-09…...Focus and Lighting

See..I Can Do It belongs to the following groups:

!$ I LOVE BIRDS !, All Animals Great And Small., All Pets Great and Small, Animal Kingdom, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Bits and Pieces , DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., Freedom to Shine, Green!, JPG Cast-Offs, Live, Love, Dream: , Parrots Only (Birds), PEACE, LOVE & TRANQUILITY, Pets Are Us ~ 2 per day, Playful Photogenic Animals, Safe Haven, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Birds, Vibrant and Vivid Color and Who are YOU to Judge? Available for sale as

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See..I Can Do It by Gavin Maginness
See..I Can Do It by Gavin Maginness
  • linifer

    linifer

    Excellent work Gavin!!!!! This looks fantastic, the colours are bright and there is so much detail in the feathers! Wonderful tones. Alex looks a very handsome!... Well done you!
    Hugs oxo

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks for your comments. It took a while to get these results but we got there

  • Phillip Weyers

    Phillip Weyers

    Beautiful quality to this Gavin and a gorgeous bird too… I am guessing that Alex is not around any more?

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    That’s right, unfortunately he passed away after eating copper wire. The wire was concealed in a toy I had got for him. He chewed through the beads and found the wire. By the time I found it, it was already too late.

  • Veikko  Suikkanen

    Veikko Suikkanen

    Great work!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks for your praise

  • kathy s gillentine

    kathy s gillen...

    Fantastic work

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks ever so much

  • Malcolm Chant

    Malcolm Chant

    Hello Gavin, this is brilli8ant, a great capture love it.

    Malcolm

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I appreciate your comment Malcom, thanks

  • Béla Török

    Béla Török

    Lovely work, Gevin!

  • Gavin Maginness

    Gavin Maginness

    Thanks, I can only get better.

  • Brandie1

    Brandie1

    Beautiful capture.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks, I really appreciate that As this my first attempt at editing and you saying beautiful makes it special. Thanks

  • lorilee

    lorilee

    BEAUTIFUL – fabulous color and detail!!!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I am so glad you like it. I kike RB ‘cause I can continue to grow.

  • Waleska Luker

    Waleska Luker

    Wow gorgeous!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    To receive such accolades make me feel good. What’s ore amazing that this was my first attempt. Another very dear friend helped through the process.

  • Phillip Weyers

    Phillip Weyers

    Sorry to hear that Gavin… I like to think we will see our pets again in the hereafter too.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Wow!!!!! I’ll have a menagerie. May even need to set up another cloud for me.

  • Joyce Dickens, IPA

    Joyce Dickens,...

    Welcome to RB Gavin; this is an awesome capture of this gorgeous bird! Excellent fine detail, vibrant color and perfect clarity and exposure.. :-))

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Joyce, I am glad you like it.

  • cdudak

    cdudak

    Beautiful shot of this colorful bird. Great details, well done…..Kay

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank you. For my first attempt at editing, with a lot of help from Linifer, it turned out well.

  • Krys Bailey

    Krys Bailey

    He’s simply adorable!!!!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Krys, I am glad you like it.

  • jesika

    jesika

    The image is a fitting tribute to your little friend. I am so sorry he died and hope you are able to smile now when you remember him.
    j

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    It will take a long time for that to happen but at least I can share my memories of him with the people on RB. Thanks for your kind words

  • handprintz

    handprintz

    Beautiful capture and editing, lovely work

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks heaps. It is good get a bit creative again. I Was a Chef and with a badly damaged back I can no longer work in this field. I miss the pressure, the challenge, trying to aim a little higher each and every time. In photo editing I have a new playground

  • mlynnd

    mlynnd

    Beautiful closeup. Love the coloring.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks. I am glad you liked it

  • Phineous   Cassidy

    Phineous Cas...

    fantastic stuff mate i absolutely love parrots all birds actually i bred and sold budgies as a child my dad built me a fantastic avairy loved it till i found girls lol
    a simple trik ive found editing is the high pass sharpen create a duplicate layer use the high pass filter and make the layer type either overlay or soft focus from memory can work wonders for clarity and contrast / sharpness
    great stuff love your photas

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I apologise for being so tardy in responding. I really appreciate your advice and I shall try it next time I do some editing.

  • Ellen

    Ellen

    What a beautiful bird and beautiful photo!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Ellen, I appreciate your comment. I’ll drop in for a visit a little later so please have the kettle on so we can have a cuppa :-)

  • Brandie1

    Brandie1

    Good capture.
    He is a beautiful bird

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    That he was, it hurt a great deal when I lost him. If you had met him you would have loved him as much as I did.

  • Brandie1

    Brandie1

    I am sure I would of.
    To lose any pet is heartbreaking.
    So sorry for your loss

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks, All I have to do now is wait till after Easter and I will have a new companion. This time I am getting an Eclectus.

  • Tom Newman

    Tom Newman

    A beautiful shot Gavin , Alex was a real poser :-)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Tom, he wasn’t camera shy and thats for sure.

  • Holly Kempe

    Holly Kempe

    Wonderfully done Gavin…love all your birds :)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Holly, your comments mean a lot and are appreciated

  • janfoster

    janfoster

    absolutely great capture : )

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Jan, I value your words of appreciation.

  • jayview

    jayview

    lovely shot and I would think your editing enhances it. Nice momento to have!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks. I agree with you, it looks a lot better without all the clutter that was there.

  • jujubean

    jujubean

    He was beautiful. Will you get another? My Father-in-law has a parrot and he is soo much fun. Has an extensive vocabulary and we just roll on the floor laughing at him sometimes! So sorry for your loss.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I am still waiting for him to be born. As soon as I am able (between 4-7 weeks) I will bring him home

  • MichelleR

    MichelleR

    He is stunning. A real beauty! This is a great image.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I appreciate you wonderful words of praise, Thank you

  • NicoleH

    NicoleH

    Beautiful bird, photo, and photo editing! Excellent work! :)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank you Nicole. I only wish my editing skills were better but I will learn

  • FlowersEtc

    FlowersEtc

    Great capture. I like your title, but I see it as “Front and Center” :)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    The “See I Can Do It” was because I wanted him to stand still for a while so I could take the photo. After many tries he eventually did.

  • Catherine Sherman

    Catherine Sherman

    What a beautiful bird, and a great photograph. I love the colors.

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank You. He was such a vibrant green. He looked a lot better after he had taken his shower. He would be on my arm and I would splash him with water. He loved it.

  • Tama Blough

    Tama Blough

    Beautiful shot and I am so sorry you lost him. I hope you have let the toy company know that toy is not good for birds. Glad you have a new baby coming and can’t wait to see pictures!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    If I could remember where I had got it from I would have been banging on their door. If you like Tama follow this link to see what he will look like. Eccles will be a male and he is the green one displayed.

  • Tama Blough

    Tama Blough

    Oooh, pretty bird! That will be wonderful for you!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I will start a series on him to let you see him as he grows up.

  • Fern Design

    Fern Design

    love it!! wonderful work!!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank you, coming from you that means a lot.

  • jacqi

    jacqi

    He’s so beautiful in this shot :)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    He was even better in real life.

  • Babbler

    Babbler

    beautiful shot

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Many thanks.

  • Ginny York

    Ginny York

    Beautiful capture Gavin. I’m so glad he came into your life and made it so worthwhile again. Animals are so amazing. :))

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thanks Ginny

  • Gili Orr

    Gili Orr

    Beautiful bird, well-captured… and very touching words. You should definitely send this one to ImageWriting

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank You Gilli, and thanks for the new group as well.

  • FlowersEtc

    FlowersEtc

    Wonderful capture Gavin. Handsome Alex, love his lavender feet

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank You.

  • Amanda Emblow

    Amanda Emblow

    What a wonderful bird , Its amazing the power and love of pets give to us humans in times of need sickness and overall companion ship they share . Animals always give unconditional love , i hope that some day ALL humans will do the same for them :)

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    I agree with you totally. Hopefully the age of miracles is not yet passed

  • FlowersEtc
  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank You ever so much.

  • LeilaniMelayna

    LeilaniMelayna

    Excellent I really like this one!

  • Gavin Maginness replied

    Thank you very much. He was such a lovely bird.

  • SKNickel
  • gabbielizzie

    gabbielizzie

    gorgeous bird,congradulations on your feature

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