American Avocets Building a Nest-- does this work?

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D Mark IV
500mm +1.4x
Skimmer Pod

1/500
f/9.0
ISO 1250

Took this lying flat on my belly on a saline flat off of Bowdoin Lake, in NE Montana in May. I found this pair building a nest and was able to slowly shimmy across the flat to get closer to them without them becoming alarmed.
I am wondering if this image works with one avocet's head swung the other way, or not. I just loved that it showed active nest building, and this was my one chance to capture this behavior.
I darkened the BG slightly, did a little bit of Detail Extraction on the avocets in Nik Color Efex, sharpened, and did a couple rounds of NR on the background. Slight vignetting added.

Thanks so much in advance for your thoughts.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Melissa, lying flat has really given you a great perspective, as it works well with the avocets posed against the distant grass BG. I feel the main focus is on the avocet holding that long strand of grass in his bill, so I dont mind that there is no eye contact from the second avocet. Just enough space at the bottom.

[Daniel Cadieux]

The BG and the in-focus vegetation are absolutely delicious! Exposure and processing top-notch (although I would either darken or crop off the paler band along the very top). I also miss a catchlight or reflection in the eye. Although yes I would prefer the far bird's eye visible I'm finding myself OK with it as is because we can sense how busy searching back and forth for good nesting material these guys are.

[Marina Scarr]

This image tells a great story, and the avocet turned away works well in helping to convey that story. I just tried a # of crops. Based upon what you have posted, I would leave the crop as is.

[Karl Egressy]

Intimate shot showing the nest building, Melissa. The low shooting angle makes it look great.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Melissa,

The color palette here would work very well in my living room ;). Seriously, the brown's here are what make it for me (along with everything else).

The avocet in the bg is fine for me. I wouldn't mind a better HA, but that's just getting picky. Hopefully you have even more to share from this series!

Miguel

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Melissa,

Having shot these birds for a number of years, I am going to be honest with you, IMO this one doesn't work, it has the techs but not the aesthetics IMO. Just imagine how much better it would have been with both heads parallel to the back of the camera or if they were interacting. ;)
keep it up, you have some really nice frames in your portfolio, I personally would keep fewer but stronger frames

[David Salem]

As you know I love these birds also but I am in the same mindset as Arash. Even though the techs are solid, the shot dosnt have allot of artistic quality to is as most of your others do. Nice details and exposure. Keep em coming!

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks all, for your honesty and feedback. I've gotten to the point where, for me, interesting behavior trumps perfect head angles, but I do hear what you're saying, David and Arash. Thanks again.

[Melissa Groo]

[QUOTE=Miguel Palaviccini;938496]Melissa,

The color palette here would work very well in my living room ;).

Interesting you would say that, Miguel, as someone has just ordered a large, framed print of an image in my series of this pair (the Living Bird cover), as she wants it as the focal point of her living room!

[christopher galeski]

nice capture,like the color and light,agree about a catchlight.