Just Some Common Winter Birds

[Loupey]

No problem, Copy. While I have no set routine, I generally do the same few steps on every image:

1. Upload the RAW image with PS with minimal alterations (exposure = 0, shadows = 0, brightness = 25, contrast = 0, saturation = 0). Typically leaving the white balance set for "as shot".
2. If needed, first step is a slight Shadow/Highlight adjustment. Care must be exercised as this can be overdone (and tell-tale signs very evident). If both are needed, I usually only use 5% on one and 7% on the other. If only the highlights need to be toned down, I use no more than 10%. Any more than that becomes too unnatural looking.
3. Here I use the Levels adjustment to improve the blacks and whites. Typically moving the input levels to 10, 1.15, and 245 as starting points.
4. Next I use adjust the Curves in a "modified S". Typically leaving the upper right quadrant (white side) a straight line but making the bottom left (dark side) having a slight downward dip.
5. This step I adjust the color cast. Very faint color cast can be easily adjusted by altering the highlight and shadows but not the mid-tones.
6. If the color cast adjustment is significant, I may need to redo either the Levels or Curves
7. I sharpen using the USM set for 75, 2, 2.
8. Lastly, if the shot was taken at ISO 400, I will perform a Reduce Noise adjustment at 7, 15%, 50%, 0%

No masks, no layers, no other fancy stuff. My cave-man style of PP. Rather crude by many people's standards; but I think it is sufficient - still haven't seen the need to open Scott Kelby's book which I bought months ago

A before and after shot here. Important notes: 1) leave all in-camera settings at their neutral (zero) levels. I find that capturing the RAW image as flat as possible allows for the cleanest degree of post processing. and 2) crop only as a last resort - compose in-camera and leave images full frame as much as possible.

Hope that helps. If not, let me know.

[Copy_Kot]

That is a tremendous help. Thank you very much.