Theme: Black-necked Stilts

This is my first time posting in this forum.

The middle stilt was moving around so I waited to see a little space between the birds and to have it facing slightly towards me. I wound up with one shot before it moved again. I have done virtually no processing, no curves, colors, etc. I did trim a small slice off the top and off the right side, and applied a very slight sharpening. I am going for the soft and dreamy look.

All comments and suggestions are welcome.

D300, 500mm w/1.4XTC, 1/3200s, f8, ISO 800- handheld!

I like the arrangment of the birds in the frame, but the lack of eye contact somewhat weakens it and the details alos look soft. I might chose a tighter pano crop . TFS

I think you have created the "soft" feel you were looking for. Not sure if it works , but you gatta do what YOU like. I think a bit of "fog" would add a great deal to this one , and the pano crop is almost a must for this one.

I sharpened it and cropped it per the suggestions. Personally I like the two outside stilts and the dowitcher with heads down as it seems to frame the central one. I'm not sure I like this better, but I would like to have other's opinions.

Michael:

Welcome to the avian forum.:S3:

Agree about the pano crop with this image. All the extra water didn't add to the impact IMO.

It isn't easy working multiple birds in the same frame, to get good poses from all of them is a bit hit or miss. I like the two right birds poses, although I wish there was a bit more separation between them.

The left most stilt is less successful because he is turned away from us.

I have mixed feelings about the dowitcher. might try a version without him.

Lots of cropping options here. As Joe said, you get to make the final call!

Cheers, and looking forward to more.

Randy

Taking all the suggestions, I have "faked" the left bird (cloning in from another shot), just to see if it would look better, and done a much tighter crop, including eliminating the dowitcher. It now is a completely different picture to me. I'm not sure about it. Do people like this better?

Michael:

I think the last repost is the best in regards to the composition and impact.

I normally don't add things to images, but it is a good compositional exercise and will help you see comps in the field better.

Cheers

Randy