Harlequin - keep it or not?

[Bill Dix]

Spent the rainy week weeding out some old files, and came across this one from Barnegat in February. I just love these ducks. I had originally rejected it (but not deleted it altogether), because of the OOF rock in the foreground cutting off his feet. But there are some things I like about it (detail, pose, BG). What do you think?

D7000 | 500f4 | ISO 500 | 1/4000s @ f6.3 | -1.3 EV

[William Malacarne]

You have some very good detail etc.......might try cloning out the white on the rock and crop it somewhere to just below where the white was. That will remove a good part of the OOF rock and it won't show up as much cause the bird will be larger in frame.

Bill

[nancy hazen]

I like the duck very much. But I'd try to soften the rock. Not an easy task though.
Nancy

[Dan Brown]

A keeper for sure if it were mine! Lovely. I might crop a bit off the left and clone the two white spots off the rock.

[Kerry Perkins]

Bill, I would definitely keep this one! Nice detail, color, and composition. I'm a big fan of preening and napping shots like this. I say keep it!

[Troy Lim]

I agree with your self-assesment there but I really like this shot.
I would try to lighten up the tail to see if you can give it a bit more details.
A keeper.

[Tommy Rodgers]

Cloning, cropping, and contrast are all helpful suggest, but for me, the best reason to keep the image is because you like it. Gosh, I am keeping a couple of images I know you folks wouldn't like, but I do. After all. isn't this what this is all about? What each of like, and the fun we had getting there.

Thanks for sharing a beautiful bird.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions. Here's a repost. Evicted the two barnacles. Cropped bottom and left (keeping the eye more or less in the ROT position). Adjusted brightness of the rock downward by about 40 points. Did some s/h and dodging on the tail and belly. And took out the membrane over part of the eye. It's better, if a little large in the frame for my taste. Would be better yet if his feet were showing, but I'll keep it. Thanks for the help.

[Dan Brown]

Sweet repost, Bill!

[William Malacarne]

Bill

Very nice repost....I know I would keep it.

Bill

[John Hawkins]

I'd keep it if it were mine. Like the repost much better. Good detail and BG good job with the whites.

[Stan Cunningham]

Great repost Bill and I'd post it my site in a heartbeat, if I had one.

[Christopher Ciccone]

The repost really does it for me! Often what determines a keeper for me in a situation like this is what else I might have shot, but frankly, if I got this shot - I'd be jumping for joy and dancing a jig. The IQ is pristine, and the eye connection brings you right into the moment. Brilliant!

[nancy hazen]

The repost is great!

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all!

[Tom Redd]

Bill, I love this shot and the detail alone is a reason to keep it. The repost is beautiful. Add me to the list of those that enjoy the napping or preening poses.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Bill!

[John Chardine]

Missed this one Bill. Sorry. Superb. Without reading the yours or other's comments I can't think of a reason why you would not keep this image. I MUST get to Barnegat sometime soon.

[Bill Dix]

Missed this one Bill. Sorry. Superb. Without reading the yours or other's comments I can't think of a reason why you would not keep this image. I MUST get to Barnegat sometime soon.

Thank you John. The reason for my hesitation is that the Harlequin's feet are missing. I love these birds, and am pleased with the details, colors, bg on this one. But without the feet it keeps reminding me of one of those 'balanced rocks' in the Southwest, just perched tenuously on the base without any means of support. I guess that didn't bother others as much as it did me.

[John Chardine]

But the virtual feet are there behind the rock. No problem.