Down in the reeds with a common loon

[Randy Stout]

This image was captured last week in northern Michigan. The adult was taking a bit of a break from the non stop feeding of the juvi.

D500 600VR f/7.1 1/1250s ISO 500. Pedestal mounted in the bottom of my little boat, Loonie Too!

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Isaac Grant]

Please invite me on your boat!!! I love this close up view of this beautiful loon. Details and exposure are perfect. And that green water takes this over the top. I think I would clone out that reddish blob above the birds head. Would also try and remove that horizontal reed that cuts into the birds head. They draw my eye a bit from that perfect loon.

[Jay Ing]

Sweet! The bkg reeds are nice but I'd somehow like them softened - but still, just love it!

[Arthur Morris]

Super-sharp and a sweet setting. The face looks a bit jangly to me -- possibly over-sharpened just a bit, or too many small specular highlights. I would lose the reddish blob. I tried but failed with a Gaussian blur on the background. with love, artie

[annmpacheco]

what a pov, love this, love the greens everywhere, especially the neck. Water drops are lovely. I think maybe a slight ccw rotation, (I'm following the horizontal ripple on the right, or should i be looking at the base of the bird?) I agree with losing the reddish blob. Super nice... What is the slight "blackish" shadowy lines throughout the reeds? Also see some ?specular shapes too? Is that posterization? I see this in my images from time to time and would like to learn... If this was my frame i'd throw a party! And if you invite Isaac, make room for me too!

[Jonathan Ashton]

Beautiful image my only criticism is that red blob, otherwise I think it is excellent.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for the comments, The blob is a water lily flower, partially open, but I do see how it can be distracting. I so like this location because of the flowers and reeds, which give so many options for backgrounds, not just plain water!


Artie: the bird had just popped up out of the water from fishing, and did have lots of fine specular reflections from the water. Very modest sharpening was used

The D500 produces very sharp files, and I am sharpening less than with the D4, my workhorse for many years now.

Cheers

Randy

[Michael Thompson]

Awesome image, love those deep green and soft reeds, nice detail and sharpness in the loon. i also would delete the red spot, and the shadow on the wing has a purple hue on my screen. i too want to go in your boat haha

[arash_hazeghi]

love the low angle and green environment in this one Randy you nailed it, much sharper than the other photo to my eye

TFS