Coot in Cream...

[dankearl]

D610, 600mm (300 w/2x), iso1000, f6.3

DSC_7823bp4.jpg (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=180178&stc=1&d=1551029595)

[kevin Hice]

Sorry Dan this just doesn't work for me. Blacks seem washed out and dark vegetation draws me away from the coot.

[gail bisson]

I quite like this.
The direct gaze is really nice. I feel that you have too much negative space on the RHS and would crop in a moderate amount from the right.
I would clone out most of the black part of the vegetation as it does look very "dense" and draws the eye. The green in the veggie adds anice pop of color to those gorgeous red eyes.
Finally I would add a couple of points of blacks to the blacks in selective coloring in PS.
With a redo in PP this could really shine,
Gail

[dankearl]

Thanks Gail, I have fussed with this too much!!
I had flat light, wind and water chop and because I can shoot at about 6-12" above the water at my pond, every shot
looked liked the birds were swimming in cream.
I admit that it looks washed out as Kevin pointed out and the black foliage is crappy...
Getting the blacks right on Coots is an amazing challenge to go with the beaks.

[Alex Becker]

Very much ditto Gail's comments re the vegetation and PP, although I like the green bit. The red eyes pop really well with the more monotone colors. Awesome that you can get so low with them. TFS

[John Mack]

Nice low angle with a good pose on the coot. Eye contact is nice as well. Like the vegetation in the bill.

[Arthur Morris]

I like this one a lot. I'd lose the green in the reflection. Adding a bit of BLACK to the blacks in Selective Color might improve it a lot.

with love, artie