Snowy on Spadderdock

[David Roach]

1DMKIIN 400DO ISO 500 F5.6@1/1250

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Interesting setting, good light, pose and sharpness. If it were mine I would crop it as a vertical by removing about a third off the right.

[David Roach]

Thanks as always Axel (AKA Eagle Eyes)! I had the exact same thought till I spotted the peeking flower to add a little yelow symmetry with the Egret (LRC).

[Randy Stout]

David:

I agree with Axel. I appreciate your reason for adding the splash of color, but I think the overall image would be stronger with a tighter crop.

Did you use flash on this?

In a perfect world, wish the leaf covering his foot wasn't there. I love their yellow feet!

Randy

[Chris Kotze]

Super exposure on the whites and lovely detail and colours. Ditto a tighter crop

[David Roach]

Thanks gents for the thoughtful comments and learnings! Randy, No flash was used. It was just after sunrise with very wispy clouds on the horizon. So the light was directional but very soft due to filtering through the light clouds. Great conditions for white birds. The shadows were very subtle/soft as seen on the cheek and upper neck ( this beauty is looking right toward the early sun). Dut to the large darker than midtone BG I dialed in -1 EC.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I will go against the grain here and say that I love all the space at right and also like that flower in LRC - I would keep the width of the comp as is. To me this image is as much about the habitat as the subject. The area I would crop away, however, is the dark band above (about half the space between head and edge of frame). I agree about the leaf covering the foot - too bad about that.

[David Roach]

Second Option. Going Vertical.

[David Roach]

Third Option. Daniel's suggestion.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Predictably, I like the vertical crop best. :) I would take a bit off the top, though.

[Stu Bowie]

David, the egret pops from that BG so, so well. Sharp, and like the pose. My comp suggestion would be to go with your second option, but take a little more off the right.