Sunning American Coot

[Jeff Dyck]

I love watching Coots - with all thier antics, they are like the clowns of wetlands (big floppy feet and all...). This one was photographed a couple days ago at Gilbert Water Ranch in Phoenix while I was down there visiting.

Canon 5DII -- 800mm f/5.6L IS -- f/7.1 @ 1/1250s -- ISO400 -- Fill Flash at -2 2/3EV

I am still waffling on the crop - should I take more off the bottom?

90111

[Stu Bowie]

Good job on the exposure Jeff, and I like the pose. Lovely BG colours too. Comp wise, I would crop off to take away the reflection of the coot - leaving just the water.

[Tim Munsey]

Well presented, nice one.

Tim

[Kerry Perkins]

Jeff, I love Coots too - they are a "hoot" to watch. Nicely captured and exposed. I agree with Stuart on the crop, I don't think the reflected feet are doing much for the image. Those big ol' goofy feet sure are cool and it's great to get a shot of them out of the water like this. Well done! Oh yeah, great bg too.

[Jay Gould]

Another vote to crop the reflection; otherwise lovely presentation.

[Duane Noblick]

Great exposure and pose. I also like the bg.

[Arthur Morris]

Disagree 1000%. Keep the REFl. The image design is superb. The photo is balanced perfectly. If you crop to keep some water you also get the feet sticking into the frame without legs.

BTW, I love this image with that fanned tail, perfect HA, nice framing, and soft light and colors.

All that it needs for me is a Linear Burn on the bill.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Wow!! Excellent image. Pose, perch, BG...reflection...all great. The comp is perfect as is...for me the legs' reflection is killer cool and would leave it there!! Well seen and executed. A big fan of this image:c3:.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Ha! Artie and I typing at the same time again...and agreeing again...:S3:

[Arthur Morris]

As you say, great minds think alike :) I am glad that I beat you to the punch for once....

[Jay Gould]

Artie and Daniel: that is why you are the teachers as, at least ME, I am the student. Thanks for another way of looking at the image.:w3

[Daniel Cadieux]

As you say, great minds think alike :) I am glad that I beat you to the punch for once....

You've done it twice within the last 24 hours!

[Arthur Morris]

Artie and Daniel: that is why you are the teachers as, at least ME, I am the student. Thanks for another way of looking at the image.:w3

I am glad that you are open to the opinions of the JGs (Joint Geniuses). :)

[Arthur Morris]

You've done it twice within the last 24 hours!

Big deal. Now the score is Dan: 7,235. Artie : 2.

Keep up the great work.

[Jeff Dyck]

Thanks all for the comments.

Artie - here is an editted version with a linear burn applied to the bill. I think it's a definite improvement - thank-you for the suggestion.

90139

[Arthur Morris]

YAW :)

Much better but I still love it. Here is a further hint: on my best coot image the bill needed two 100% Linear Burns.

[Katie Rupp]

Love it; and totally agree to keep the reflection with the feet...those feet are just too good not to be seen twice!

[Mark Young]

Those feet are awesome! I like the changes made in the repost on the bill.