The Magician

Hi Everyone,
Not sure if you like this one for the weekly theme, but here goes anyway :D
Taken last autumn (yes, I know...but I am English :D) at the Wild Bird Rescue Centre in Key Largo which I suspect is no longer there :(. This snowy egret was a wild bird and it was feeding in the mangroves. This was done in-camera as the light was extremely harsh so I was deliberately trying for this half-in/half-out of the shade look.
40D 300 f/2.8 + 2x
ISO 400
F/5.6 1/3200
Exp comp @ -2
Look forward to your C&C's :)
Best regards to all,
Nicki

PS Artie, if you're looking, sorry about the head angle :D:eek: but I like the fact that he looks as if he is disappearing into the shadows.

Nicki, This fits the theme perfectly. I do wish for a hint of the eye. Very interesting POV.:)

He does appear to be disappearing... :D I get the feel that if he moves left and up, he will disappear all together.

Patti, that's why I called him the Magician :D
Denise, I see what you mean, but for me this is more about the shapes :)
Thank you both for your comments :)

This is an interesting one Nicki! I like the abstraction and composition. I'm undecided about the eye, as I feel that it should either be brought out a little more or darkened into total obscurity. ;) Just my take though, I understand what you are conveying with the image. Quite nice!

Beautifully and artistically done, Nicki:)

I think is a good one for this week's theme, Nicki. The shapes and forms make an interesting abstract, so I don't mind the head angle here.

BTW, I was at the Key Largo Wild Bird Sanctuary a few weeks ago with many birds present.

Kerry, Cheryl and Cindy, thanks so much for your kind words. Cindy, I am so glad to hear that the refuge is still there. I had understood that their financial situation was dire. So glad that I was wrong :)

Nicki, Very nice concept!
I really like the feather detail and lines of the neck.
I'd suggest including some of the head and perhaps the eye, to "ground" the image a bit more.

Cheers -

Sandy

Sandy, thanks so much for your kind words. As I recall this is full frame, so I don't have any more of the head, but I could try to lighten the eye :)