Flying Egret

[Barry Ekstrand]

An egret flying by a duck on the water at Cullinan Park near Sugar Land, TX

Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
Lens: Canon 400mm f5.6L, on monopod
Exposure: Aperture Priority, f5.6, 1/6400 sec, 0 ev

Raw file processed in DPP & then PS CS5. Noise reduction via Neat Image, shadow under wing and legs treated with Nik Color Efex 4 Detail Extractor.

Comments on both image quality and composition desired and will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Barry

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Barry,

Nicely captured detail in the Egret, as this can be tough to do. I think you got a good wing angle, and a nice head angle as well.

The image needs a bit of CW rotation (based on the ripples in the water). I think you can get away with a tighter crop, maybe even a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Not sure how I feel about the Coot (?) in the bg.

Miguel

[Barry Ekstrand]

Thanks Miguel. I appreciate your comments on the crop and rotation. I am also unsure about the other bird being in the photo but thought the ripples in the water should be connected to the source. I'm definitely open to other opinions about that!

Barry

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Barry, good flying pose from the egret, whites look good, and you will have to keep the coot. Even before reading your reply to Miguel, removing the coot would leave the ripples in no mans land. I do agree with Miguel regarding a CW rotation.

[Marina Scarr]

You did well on your exposure and have a nice flight pose and angle. I like the reflection of the water under the near wing. Your image is tilting a little bit to the left and needs some rotation as noted.

[Daniel Cadieux]

You got a nice flight pose here, and I love the water reflecting underneath the wing. Whites look great. Personally I would have preferred no coot in the image (and subsequently no ripples) but that is what you got...gives a bit of context. As posted it does need CW rotation and perhaps a bit of a crop at bottom.