Avocet wing stretch

[Joe Galkowski]

Here is one from a week or so ago. The BG is a little complex but the bird cooperated nicely. Taken just as the sun was setting.

D7100, 500mm f/4, 1/500 at f/6.3, ISO 200, 80% of full frame, cropped and a little USM. Burned some of the pickleweed. Darkened a couple specular reflections.

Does the background hurt it too bad and do I need to extend the canvas to the left? I don't like adding stuff that wasn't there if I can avoid it.

[christopher galeski]

nice capture Joe,to me,I don't think the BG hurts it,its a nice wing stretch pose with nice detail and light.

[John Robinson]

Typical wader stretch ! Good one and I agree the backdrop doesn't bother me too much.
JohnR

[KathieThomas]

Lovely, so nice of the bird to co-operate. Love the colours.

[Marina Scarr]

Killer wing stretch, and I rather like seeing the bird in its environment. It tells a little more of a story.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'll be honest and say that I do wish that grassy clump was not much directly behind and so close the avocet. Having said this, the strecth is quite pleasing, as is the light and vertical crop. Good techs (although you are brave photographing birds at such low ISOs), colours, processing.

[Pamela de Zilva]

Joe, What I like about this image is how you managed to nail the mixed lighting. You have puled out all the detail in the feathers . Pamela

[Binu John]

Lovely shot, Joe! Very nice exposure and stretching pose! I really like the vertical crop!

[Ian Wilson]

Hi Joe, I think everything works well. You have made just the right choices to show the bird at its best. Well done. Cheers, Ian.

[Joe Galkowski]

Thank you all for the kind words. I much appreciate it. I worried the BG was too distracting and you helped me see that it isn't that much of a negative.

Binu, I took this one the day I met you and Sridata at Baylands. You both helped me with my skills. I no longer shoot at only 200 ISO and I found this forum. Thanks again. Oh, and for some reason I shoot over 60% of my shots portrait versus landscape. I always have.

[David Salem]

Nice wing stretch and I like the soft evening light. I wish the clump wasnt behind the bird but it dosnt ruin it for me. Nice capture