Australasian Grebe

[John Cooper]

This Australasian Grebe was incubatiing a clutch of eggs on a floating nest in a small farm dam. Their nest always appears so large for the diminutive size of this grebe species - commonly known as the Little grebe.

EOS 7D, EF100-400 @ 300mm, ISO 400, 1/320 sec F13, early morning light, water-hide, tripod.

[PhilCook]

Liking the natural habitat, common species everywhere here in Sth Oz, but generally very shy and alert and hard to get near to. Light looks nice John and have to love the reflection

[Nick Palmieri]

This is a nice environmental shot. I like the bird, I wish those grasses were not intersecting his beak but doesn't appear you could have been in a better position to prevent that. TFS

[Randy Stout]

John:

The shot shows the story well, watery surroundings, reeds, etc. The bird is sharp and well exposed.

I was trying to figure out the reflection and the surrounding reeds, which don't match the actual bird/reeds. Sometimes the angles can make it look different, but I wonder if you tweaked the reflection a bit?

Cheers

Randy

[Mike Landwehr]

John, a lovely image of the grebe in it's natural habitat. I really like the feather coloration, and the head angle. Reconciling some of the reflections can make your head spin, but I suspect it is due to the angles involved. While the reflection certainly adds interest, I think you could also try cropping most of the reflection off the bottom, and some off the right side, which would concentrate the focal interest on the grebe itself (with no competition from the reflection), and move the grebe out of the center of the image.

[Steve Zamek]

Such a lovely image. It tells a sweet story. I have no problem with the busy habitat, as it's part of the story, and the bird is clearly the centerpiece. The reflection, however, to my mind, does not enhance the image. I vote from cropping from the bottom and adding a bit of room at the top, if available.

[John Cooper]

John:

The shot shows the story well, watery surroundings, reeds, etc. The bird is sharp and well exposed.

I was trying to figure out the reflection and the surrounding reeds, which don't match the actual bird/reeds. Sometimes the angles can make it look different, but I wonder if you tweaked the reflection a bit?


Randy

Hi Randy - thanks for the comments. No tweaking to the image other than Levels, Vibrance and USM.

Cheers, John

[John Cooper]

John, a lovely image of the grebe in it's natural habitat. I really like the feather coloration, and the head angle. Reconciling some of the reflections can make your head spin, but I suspect it is due to the angles involved. While the reflection certainly adds interest, I think you could also try cropping most of the reflection off the bottom, and some off the right side, which would concentrate the focal interest on the grebe itself (with no competition from the reflection), and move the grebe out of the center of the image.

Thanks Mike - yes I have actually done just that (croppping out the reflection) to strengthen the comp for a magazine article. I'm in 2 minds about whether to go with or without the added reflection..!!

[John Cooper]

Such a lovely image. It tells a sweet story. I have no problem with the busy habitat, as it's part of the story, and the bird is clearly the centerpiece. The reflection, however, to my mind, does not enhance the image. I vote from cropping from the bottom and adding a bit of room at the top, if available.

Thanks Steve - the cropping out the reflection seems to have the consensus!

[John Cooper]

This is another image of the grebe and was taken in-camera without the reflection. Personally I feel it concentrates more on the grebe but does also emphasize the messy nest site.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the habitat, great pose, great shooting angle, and nice details.
Either crop works for me.
Well done.

[David Salem]

Great shot and I think you need to be in between the two. IMO the reflection didnt help this one much but the re-post is a bit tight and dose point out the messy nest as you said. Nice HA and the techs look good too. Well done.

[John Cooper]

Great shot and I think you need to be in between the two. IMO the reflection didnt help this one much but the re-post is a bit tight and dose point out the messy nest as you said. Nice HA and the techs look good too. Well done.

Thanks David - yes I agree the repost is a bit tight in the frame.