American Coot

This guy was foraging around the Goldeneye ducks I was trying to shoot the other day.
The canvas was extended on the left. I also changed the color of a few blue reflections to match the rest of the background and cloned out a few specular highlights from the bill and some dirty feathers near the base of the bill.

http://luisv.smugmug.com/photos/749748581_kkr9H-O-1.jpg

American Coot
Shoreline Lake

Canon 7D + 500L + 1.4x TC on tripod
1/2000, f/9, ISO 800, manual exposure, flash -1.7 FEC.

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Luis

Pretty cool! I like the serene mood, angle, pose, sharpness and water colors. I might remove one of the catchlights and maybe a bit more contrast?

I don't think people appreciate how difficult it is to take a really good image of a coot, and I assure you that is what we have here!! Dark plumage, black head feathers, ivory white bill, all a recipe for either blown highlights for the bill, or dark detail-less dark plumage, especially the head. Luis, you passed the test with flying colors with a fine composition, great detail, low viewpoint, superb colors and reflection. Well done! regards~Bill