Horned Grebe (Winter Plumage)

[Jon Swanson]

Image taken at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis this past weekend. I really like them in the spring but the subtleness with the red eye of winter plumage is really pretty in my book. D800 60VR + 1.4TC No Flash !SO 400 1/500 @ f10.

[Shawn Zierman]

Killer light and low angle. I agree with you too, the eye is striking in this image.
The image could use just a bit of counter clock wise rotation imo.
Exquisite image Jon.

[Karl Egressy]

This is a real beuty, Jon. Great head turn and eye contact, good sharpness. It might need some CCW rotation. Also I would clean up the water a bit.

[Jon Swanson]

Thanks guys. I agree it needs just a touch of rotation. I chose not to clean up the water Karl because I have plenty of it in clean water. I like to have a variety of shots not the same old same old. So I left the moss that was showing in as it is the habitat they like to feed in.

[Lorant Voros]

Awesome eye, nice IQ and low angle. I agree with the rotation and cleaning the water and BG up. Worth the effort...great image.

[Frank Schauf]

Excellent shot with very nice soft background, i agree with the rotation.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Jon -

Very nice. The eye really draws you right in to the image. The detail in the feathers is amazing as well. Very nicely exposed!

I agree about the slight rotation, and although I wouldn't necessarily clean up the water in the foreground, I would consider cleaning up the water in the background with some cloning. Just a personal preference.

Miguel

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Oh, just noticed ... pretty sure you shot this with the 600mm VR and not the 60mm macro ;) Fix the caption when you get the chance.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent low angle, light, pose and sharp details. well done

[dankearl]

The rotation has been mentioned, I also like the angle and it is very sharp.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Awesome detail, I also like the low angle and colors. A good looking Grebe, love the red eye and HA. Argee with rotation.

[David Salem]

Very nice shot. Low angle, details and perfect exposure make for a great scene. Worth the time to clean-up the FG and BG. Well done....

[Mike Lentz]

Liking the low perspective and species here, Jon! Nice that you have these guys so close to your house too!

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the pose, exposed very well, nice light, excellent low angle and details.
Agree on the rotation and the dirty water and background don't bother me.
Well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Great low-angle perspective on this fella. The red eye is very nice on this species, and it looks great here. Rotation mentioned often already, so I won't. I appreciate your reasoning for wanting to keep this image as is in terms of debris in the water, but you could compromise by cleaning up the ones in the lower FG and in the BG but keeping the "row" closest to the subject intact. Super nice though either way.

[Jon Swanson]

Thanks for the comments everyone. And I do agree with you Daniel. When I looked at it again, before reading your comment, that would be the best way to do it I would think. Thanks again for the feedback!