Theme: High-Key Lil' Blue

SonyA700~Sony70-400G@400mm~Sony HVL-F56Am for fill-flash~ISO640~F6.3~1/800sec~manual exposure~hand held~Missouri City,Texas~8-20-09
CS4/Topaz Adjust3(small detail preset)/Topaz Clean2
comments and critique welcomed! regards~Bill

Bill, The first thing I did is add the word Theme to your post as it qualifies for our weekly contest -which is High-Key!! Perfect for you.
Okay on to business-You have nice details and a nice pose. It appears to have a slight color cast but this may be intentional as it goes nicely with your scheme. I love that you see the feet and it's standing on a lily pad. Not often I see that. Well done.

Bill, I like the pose and position of the subject within the frame. With this type of image the HK works well along with the filter technique. The image does look a bit flat and would wish for a bit more contrast.

Thanks Denise and Dave. No Denise, the blue tint wasn't intentional. Dave: you are correct as well. Low-key usually is the product of low contrast situations; overcast and thus primarily ambient light. Therefore increasing contrast is usually called for, but I forgot.
regards~Bill

More contrast and this is great in fact. I love to see those claws on the rearward facing toes. :)

Hi Will,
I actually like the composition and capture. Agree that its a little flat and a tad more contrast is in order...but at the same time, it has a good feel to it...well done Sir...:cool:

lovely composition , I may boost contrast
TFS

Another excellent composition, William. I like the hk effect. btw, where did you take this image?

Thanks everybody. Indranil: The image was taken at Kitty Hollow Park, southwest of Houston. I discovered it last week while driving on Hwy 6, close to the Fort Bend Tollway. It has a small lake, with lilly pads, and a few resident Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, one Great Egret, and a few White Ibis. regards~Bill

Thanks Bill. I think I know the area. I used to live in the Woodlands and then moved to Memorial off hwy 6.