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 asGreeting Cards

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
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
Great work!
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks for your praise
kathy s gillen...
Fantastic work
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks ever so much
Malcolm Chant
Hello Gavin, this is brilli8ant, a great capture love it.
Malcolm
Gavin Maginness replied
I appreciate your comment Malcom, thanks
Béla Török
Lovely work, Gevin!
Gavin Maginness
Thanks, I can only get better.
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
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
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
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,...
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
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
He’s simply adorable!!!!
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks Krys, I am glad you like it.
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
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
Beautiful closeup. Love the coloring.
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks. I am glad you liked it
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
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
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
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
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
Wonderfully done Gavin…love all your birds :)
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks Holly, your comments mean a lot and are appreciated
janfoster
absolutely great capture : )
Gavin Maginness replied
Thanks Jan, I value your words of appreciation.
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
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
He is stunning. A real beauty! This is a great image.
Gavin Maginness replied
I appreciate you wonderful words of praise, Thank you
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
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
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
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
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
love it!! wonderful work!!
Gavin Maginness replied
Thank you, coming from you that means a lot.
jacqi
He’s so beautiful in this shot :)
Gavin Maginness replied
He was even better in real life.
Babbler
beautiful shot
Gavin Maginness replied
Many thanks.
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
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
Wonderful capture Gavin. Handsome Alex, love his lavender feet
Gavin Maginness replied
Thank You.
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
Excellent I really like this one!
Gavin Maginness replied
Thank you very much. He was such a lovely bird.
SKNickel
gabbielizzie
gorgeous bird,congradulations on your feature