Black Neck Stilt

[David Salem]

Took this a few years ago at a wildlife refuge I frequent during the winter migration. After many keepers since then, this one still has not been culled out of a my best of folder. I like the simple design. What do you think. Is it to tight.

7D---100-400mm @350mm---f5.6---ss1/1000---ISO400---HH@ 7:30amThanks as always for looking and your input. Appreciated and learned from.


David

[Don Nelson]

Interesting leg position and nice light on the back feathers
Do you have any more room in the original raw file? Its cropped really too close in the frame. A little more space on top and left, and some room on the bottom for "virtual feet" would be an excellent addition to this image.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose details and great exposure. you got that red eye! I might gently raise the blacks in the tail area and go for a looser crop if you have room.

Excellent shot!

[Shawn Zierman]

Sweet light quality...and isn't that where it all starts...The low angled light gave great sheen
to the dark plumage of the bird. Nice sense of motion with the raised foot and ripple action...
Yes, it's too tight imo, and "feels" cramped.

[Richard Mc Donald]

As everyone else has said David, great shot but a bit more room above the head, perfect.

Richard

[Karl Egressy]

My picture was commented by Arthur Morris a little while ago. He said that the bird should't occupy more than 75 percent of the frame horizontally and vertically.
I pass his comment along.
Otherwise it is a beautiful picture. I really like the shin on the converts. Head angle is nice and great to see the colour of the eye.
All in all it is a beauty but more room around would be nice.

[Mike Landwehr]

As you noted, David, it is cropped a little tight. But, the subject is very sharp, the iridescent black feathers are beautiful, the head angle is spot on, and I like the raised foot. A very nice stilt and a lovely background.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Excellent exposure and sharpness . Some room around would be great .

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments. This is almost full frame. I already added canvas to the left and reduced some from the right to give it a less square feel. Dont really want to try to add to bottom. Would it look good more vertical? Thanks again.

[Satish Ranadive]

David:
Excellent image.Love the superb details in blacks and whites.Love it.

Regards,
Satish.

[Bill Dix]

Sweet pose, colors, exposure. Yes to more room.

[gail bisson]

I love the iridescent feathers.
Since you have already added canvas I say add more canvas left and bottom. It would make this image sing.
Gail

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
Excellent pose, love the eye, exposed very well, and excellent feather detail.
Very well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Great colours, light, exposure. I also really like the front foot dragging the water. Yes to too tight. Going vertical in post here would be difficult to achieve as there would be too much canvas to add. What is really needed was for the zoom to be pulled back at time of capture...I've been guilty of that too.

[David Salem]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions.