Dusk Approaching

[Morkel Erasmus]

I created this image a while ago in the town where I live. We have some challenges with regards to light and noise due to industrial pollution, but sometimes the smog works for you and creates very interesting colours and clouds at sundown.

I like the mood in this as well as the heron's outstretched silhouette. Your C&C most welcome!

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 100-400 L IS USM
f5.6 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO 400

[David Roach]

Very nice and sharp silhouette (right down to the trailing feet and nails!). Colors are awesome!! Only wish for this beauty to be higher in the frame. Congrats!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

It works nicely, I like the contrast and pose, I would've placed the egret upper in the frame but still VERY nice.
Congratulations.

[David Fletcher]

Super silhouette shot Morkel. Like your placement, just wish for a tad more room at the bottom. Can see some sharpening halo's on my monitor which is worth a tickle to fix. Think that bg is to die for! Fine shot and be more than happy to have it myself.

[Nagesh Mula]

Beautiful Silhoutte, however Placing the bird at the top would have echoed more feelings.

[Phil Ertel]

I love the colors of the sky. The pose of the bird is nice. I like how you captured the image with the head separated from the wing. It appears to me that the bird is landing therefore I echo the comments above in that the image would have been even more pleasing with the bird placed more at the top of the frame.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks so much for the constructive comments guys. glad you like it!

the image was taken with the bird quite low in the frame, and I had to clone out some twigs sticking up.
I gave it a rework now, extending canvas artificially South and East. I believe it will suit your needs now! :)

[Fabs Forns]

I really like the repost without the frame, it was going to be my point too to get rid of it :)

[Graham Smith.]

very nice image.
lots of detail in the silhouette (if that makes sense). Don't mean to go against the grain, but I'm more partial to the original composition

[Connie Mier]

I have to go along with Graham, I think I like the first post better. Seems to have more impact.
Connie

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Fabs, Connie & Graham.

I think this will be a mixed vote, since placing the heron higher in the frame forced my to lose those dark clouds overhead which added a lot to the mood. :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Hi Morkel
I don't think you need to 'lose' the clouds above, just make the space below about twice of what the OP has. I do feel that has more impact. Frame is a bit too heavy though, perhaps a thin black line would work better?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Akos - I contemplated that but I don't want to make the heron appear any smaller than this since the rest would be 'dead' space save for the colour?

what would you think of the original post just without the frame?

[Fabs Forns]

OP without the frame would be perfect for me.

[Hugh J McLaughlin]

I think that the frame holds everything together on this great image, but everyone will not agree.

[denise ippolito]

Morkel, I agree w/ Fabs. I think your OP no frame would be best. I looked at this earlier and thought the colors are gorgeous and the silhouette is very nice. I couldn't make up my mind about the frame.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hello Morkel!

Your repost really looks good to me.
Very nice composition and combination of colors.

[Marc Mol]

Much better repost without the frame&sig, IMO. Great lighting & comp, well done.

[Ryan Lambert]

Hey Morkel the original post works better for me, as the detail in the sky/clouds accentuates the subject making it more powerful. I have to agree about the frame though, your image is strong enough without it...

[Juan Aragonés]

Hey Morkel, I clearly understand why you like this image because I like it a lot too. I agree with Fabs and prefer the OP, it is a more out of th ebox composition that works very fine. I agree about sharpening haloes. How do you get that fantastic color BG.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the comments everyone.

Juan - here is one of the OP without frame and hopefully without halos (I struggle to see them sometimes). the sky colour is a combination of the African sun, a smog cloud and me just tweaking the right levels and contrasts in PS.

[Stu Bowie]

Mork, your OP works so much better. Amazing colours in the sky, and the clouds adds to the image. With the heron flying upwards, You should leave your OP as is.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Very nice image. Stunning colors and nice action shot.
My version of framing would be somewhere between orig and repost ;)

Szimi

[Morkel Erasmus]

thank you for the comments Stu & Szimi

[Gal Shon]

superb atmosphere, I like the last repost
I would have placed the the bird in the ULC

[Kiran Poonacha]

Killer one Brother... I like it without the frame, loved the feel here and compo here.. congrats,,

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Gal & Kiran! :)

[Chris van Rooyen]

Morkel I really enjoy this one, opportunity well spotted and executed. I see slight evidence of ghosting on the wing tips, perhaps the result of gaussian blur?

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for your comment Chris - glad you like it. I did not apply any blur to the background or image as a whole. I think this was slight motion blur on the wingtips due to my SS of 1/800?