Removing a blade of grass - best tool to use?

I came across this beaver recently in his "nest" but only had my compact camera with me.



I decided to try to remove the blade of grass crossing the head. I normally use LR6 clone or healing brush for this type of work but in this case got fairly mediocre results. Tried a 4x enlargement and doing it in very small sections - worked for a while then started to deteriorate. Tried using an S pattern along the blade but still not great. The whiskers don't help.

I don't use PS but have Affinity Photo. I have heard you experts mention the clone stamp so found this in AP and started to experiment.

However before spending time I thought I would ask the question here as to the best approach.

I have the raw (not too helpful as it is a very small sensor) so if anyone wants to show me what is possible that is great but I'm really trying to improve my skills.


All advice appreciated.

A combination of cloning and healing seems to work ok.

Thanks Sabrina for the speedy response. Could you elaborate on how you used them in tandem - I have tended to use either one or the other depending on the job.

Just a quick explanation would be much appreciated.

I do some bird photography and this is a constant irritant.

Thanks.

lancslad said:

Thanks Sabrina for the speedy response. Could you elaborate on how you used them in tandem - I have tended to use either one or the other depending on the job.

Just a quick explanation would be much appreciated.

Click to expand...

Two blank layers (Photoshop). First layer, spot healing brush followed by some cloning where that left some tracks. Second layer, healing brush to fix texture in a few spots.

Excellent - it did not occur to me to use layers for this type of work - I will give it a go in AP (still lots to learn at 70).

Regards.

lancslad said:

Excellent - it did not occur to me to use layers for this type of work - I will give it a go in AP (still lots to learn at 70).

Regards.

Click to expand...

I think it is good general practice to avoid destructive editing except where it can't be avoided (such as sharpening, shadows/highlights filter, etc.)

Most of it removed with the spot healing tool in photoshop and some copy and paste.

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PX

Quick edit, using Affinity Photo. Some adjustments in RAW, but the majority of the retouch using the Inpainting Brush Tool - similar to PS's Spot Healing.





Scott

The blade across the face was not too difficult with the spot healing brush and some clone stamp for clean up. I thought the large out of focus blade was also a distracting so I worked a bit on that using mostly the patch tool [photoshop]. It didn't turn out too bad for a quick edit and I think could look convincing if one took more time with it.

Thanks to everyone for the responses - several different methodologies to consider and try out. I will definitely have a try at removing the distracting OOF grass.

In the meantime I did discover that the perfect eraser tool in ON1 Raw is pretty slick.

Just for context this is where the beaver was hanging out, right in the middle of the park.





The beavers have recently upped their game from fairly small saplings to two foot diameter trees so the Town is going after them, although most of my fellow dog walkers are supporting the beavers.

Thanks again.