Cape wagtail taking a bath

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Sometimes we take a photo more for fun than believing it would stand out amongst the others and then it surprizes you at PP time. This is one of those - on the way to our local botanical garden's exit I saw this spot in the middle of a natural stream which appeared to be popular bird bathing area. Probably because of its width (clear view of possible danger) and its shallow depth. I decided to hang around for a few minutes and was rewarded with a few birds taking a bath about 15 metres from me.

Common sharpening & dimming highlights (bright morning sun) in LR. Brights reigned in even more using LM's in PS. Cropped to about 20% of original.

All C & C's welcome

Nikon D600
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED + TC14E II
F/7.1 | 1/800s | 1250 ISO | monopod

[Randy Stout]

Tobie:

Nice pose with splayed tail, good head angle.

Specular highlights off water can be a real challenge, and it is often hard to reduce their luminosity without them starting to look a bit unnatural. I am afraid of few of those are showing up in the image.

If I have some that I just can't tone down enough, and keep them looking natural, I will clone them out.

There are different feelings about the cloning bit, but something to consider.

Cheers

Randy

[Satish Ranadive]

Magnificent image in nice environment. Very nice pose, HA and light. Great composition too.

Regards,
Satish.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Pretty neat scene. I really like the tail feathers splayed on the surface of the water. Good pose overall and I like where you have placed the subject within the frame. I agree with Randy about the specular highlights and I would remove at least the one near the head and the ones near the top. Perhaps tone down the white patch on the bird too. Pretty nice overall.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Tobie, lovely lookback pose from the little guy, and good to see his plumage drenched in water. I like the colours of the rocks beneath the water, and agree on removing some of the specular highlights. Im sure you came away with plenty keepers here. :w3

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Thanks for looking & the comments everyone! Extreme highlights removed where it matters most:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=144790&d=1410798678

[keith mitchell]

Tobie really like the running water and I do think the repost without the highlights improves the image,looks really natural ,like it a lot.

Cheers Keith.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the setting, fanned tail, colours and composition. Repost looks better. Well done Tobie.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice spot, I really like the water and the stones. Nice pose and nice composition, Tobie. The repost looks better.