Nice image. Looks just a tad from here. Love all the reflections. Woudl have like the next frame or so with the greenest stuff in the upper right of the frame to better balance the composition. For next time, try picking the left most center and placing the bird almost right against the frame-edge. This would include even more of the wake: the bird forward/wake composition.
lal, artie
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Beautiful bird and some lovely reflections. I think Artie was saying things were a tad dark here, but he kind of left us hanging. ;) While the mirrored reflection image is a stunner, you might also want to try an eye level shot if you have repeated opportunities to see this bird. Getting right along the waters edge on your belly can create some intriguing angles! Love your work and I'm sure I'll see more.
Reading the feedback above, it seems there's a tough decision to make when composing (or cropping) this image - to decide between having the bird more to the left and showing more of the wake (as Artie suggests), or moving it to the right to (in my mind) give the bird somewhere to swim into, as it were. Difficult choices.
Interestingly (for me) having tried a couple of crops (shading it with paper on my screen!), I have found myself siding with Artie's idea of moving the bird to the left - against my own expectations which would have normally had me pushing it to the right. Fascinating (and a lovely crisp shot of the bird and its reflection!).
Thank you very much for all your comments. Its always helpfull when photographers, who share the same passion, give hints to improve.
The picture was taken in the early morning at a National Park called "Oostvaarderplassen" in the Netherlands. Sadly one chance only, but I have made several pictures of this Great Crested Grebe and it gave me great pleasure to see the outcome.