Namaqua Sandgrouse with Springbuck BG - Does this work?

[Richard Flack]

This is definitely one of the more controversial photographs that I have posted on this forum.
Look forward to everyone's views (good or bad)

Location: Lijersdraai Waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Date taken: 12 June 2013
Photo details:
ISO 640
Shutter speed 1/6400
F stop 6.3
Exposure bias -0.3
Sharpened the "in focus" bird and did lens blur to BG and 2 out of focus sandgrouse. Small colour adjustments.

[Bill Dix]

This is one of those subjective ones, I guess. For me, it would have been wonderful without the two OOF birds. With them, it's an interesting moment captured, but doesn't quite work for me.

[Marina Scarr]

I am with Bill on this. I think it would have worked well with the 2 OOF birds gone.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I like this! It screams "Kgalagadi" to me, and the in-focus sandgrouse is "in the clear" regarding merging with the springbok.

[David Kenny]

The shot seems off balance with the two out of focus grouse in there. If it was just the in focus grouse and the springbok it would of worked better IMHO.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Neat natural history image, but I am in the same boat as Bill, Marina, and David artistically speaking. The clipped bird at bottom and awkward crop on the springbok do not help. The amount of blur on the springbok is just right though, and the sharp bird looks good.

[Richard Flack]

Thanks Dan, Morkel, Bill, Marina, and David! Really appreciate the constructive criticism. I totally get what the majority of you are saying and hence why I thought this would be very controversial. I have definitely leaned both ways. That said, similar to Morkel, I just like how it captures the Kalahari and the frantic motion of sandgrouses flying in. I will put this one in the arty folder and share it with Morkel :)

[Shawn Zierman]

I think this REALLY works. It can be difficult to present something fresh and new in the world of bird photography, but this fits the bill nicely imo. The composition is nicely balanced, and the details on the sharply focused bird are great.