Least Sandpiper

[Luis Villablanca]

Here is an image of a Least Sandpiper from a few days ago at a local park.
The image is full frame. I moved the image to the right a little and filled the left-side canvas with context-aware fill from PS5.
I also reduced the saturation and contrast on the background a little to help the bird stand out.
I wish I had been shooting at a lower angle but that's not always possible at that place.

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Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
Canon 1D Mark IV, 500/4 + 1.4x TC, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 800, Manual Exposure

Comments and critique are welcome,
--
Luis

[Andrew Merwin]

I like the slightly raised right leg, the BG & the light. I might be tempted to remove the blue blotches in the water.

[Troy Lim]

Luis, since you already added canvas on the left, why not remove those distracting spots on the water surface?

[Luis Villablanca]

Good question, Troy.
When I did the processing, somehow I didn't consider them to be distracting, but now that you mention it...

Here is another version with those spots removed. I also changed the tone of the ripple around the bird's feet.
99054

Thanks,
--
Luis

[Troy Lim]

You just took this shot up another notch.

[noelle zaleski]

This is lovely Luis, the re-post is really nice. I like the soft look to the water and BG.

[Chad Caswell]

Wonderful image Luis, the soft bk puts this one over the top. colors, exposure and all look great to me.

[Stu Bowie]

Luis, this low angle doesnt look too bad as you have mentioned. Good detail and colours on the bird, and I really like the soft pastel colours of the BG too. Great repost.

[Craig Clute]

Great re-post Luis. The contrast of the bird and the BG are great.

[Mike Milicia]

Great pose with lovely water and BG! Very nicely done!

I think I would actually prefer to have the blue from the sky in the ripple for a touch of color.

[Arthur Morris]

I love this image. Love, love, love. For the soft light and the sharpness and the great low perspective. I like that you got rid of some of the blob spots but in the repost you lost the beautiful blue in the ripples and the image looks blah in comparison. Bring back the blue! I think that leaving the two small blue blobs on the left side of the frame would keep some depth in the image....

[Luis Villablanca]

Thanks all for the good feedback!

Due to popular demand, here is the image with the blue in the ripples and the blobs on the left..
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--
Luis

[Arthur Morris]

Much improved. I would lose just the blob below the bird's breast and then pull down the curve a bit as the whole thing looks very light to me.

[Luis Villablanca]

Thanks Artie. Is this one still too bright?
My macbook pro screen isn't the best to judge brightness and contrast.

99118

[Arthur Morris]

Pretty much perfect now. And I still love it.

[David Pugsley]

I just want to add that this thread illustrates why we're all here. An OP, followed by great constructive criticism resulting in a stunning final. Bravo BPN!

[Arthur Morris]

David, You never taught me that you were such a smart guy :)