Poised for the Strike

[Paul Lagasi]

This image was taken on a trip to Punta Cana, DR. The resort we stayed at had numerous ponds with wading birds everywhere. They weren't at all afraid of humans and went about business as usual. This made for some great photo opp's.

Top half has fotosketcher effect and bottom is original photo. The water bug I added for effect, from my files

Thanks for looking.

[Nancy Bell]

Great variations of earthy colors! Really like the pose of the bittern and its reflection. Good job adding the water strider, it looks natural there (but maybe a little giant-sized?). Very good & engaging visual lines leading from the head of the heron, down that nice green vegetation and to the insect, and the balancing on the other side by the draping palm leaves. Above the heron and towards the upper right corner, there is a bright whitish area with what looks like black claws extending beyond. Probably something emphasized from fotosketcher. If it was me I would make these less noticeable, as my eye keeps going there.

I haven't been to the DR yet. What is the name of this resort?

[Paul Lagasi]

Hi Nancy...Thanks for comment, I made the water bug large on purpose, gave the heron something larger to eat

I stayed at the Melia Carib Tropical, 2 years ago and this February we're going to the Majestic Elegance Punta Cana, its always goo to get away from the cold's of Canada in February.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Great pose and the water bug/beetle is nice and sharp. I might clone out the shadow in the URC. Looks like the perfect place to shoot!

[Randy Stout]

Paul:

Very entertaining image, rewards close perusal. Agree with the thoughtful comments from Nancy and Jackie. I was struck by the giant bug as well, but if it is a fantasy, go all the way!

Did you give thoughts to doing the entire image in same style as the top?

Cheers

Randy

[Nancy Bell]

Paul, thanks for the info on the lodge. Looks like a fabulous place. Have you gone birding in the DR? Did you hire a guide? Am interested for a possible future trip.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Paul, I always love watching greenies fish. Fotosketcher did a really nice job and I love the addition of the water bug and the nice reflections so I assume that's why you didn't use it on the bottom of the image. I don't mind the shadow but I'm mildly bothered by the solid tan blob on the lower palm leaf on the lhs.

[Paul Lagasi]

You hit it bang on Cheryl , when I tried fotosketcher on the whole image I lost a lot of the reflection. Thanks you all for comments.

Nancy, I have gone birding before but connecting with the guide was tough. The good endemic birds are on the Haiti border and Punta Cana is at the other end. Travel is slow via buses, internal flights are non existent. This time I will try and spend a few extra days there with guide. I can get you a contact email, he's one of the best and comes highly recommended by people I trust.

Made some changes

[Cheryl Slechta]

I love it, Paul

[Dennis Bishop]

I like the second one a bit better, but the first one was so good already . . . The composition is very good, and all the lines keep the viewer's eyes in the image in a way that's quite extraordinary. The bug is a great addition to an already captivating image.

[Diane Miller]

I really like the treatment and palette here. The bug is a great addition -- it like like the bird is deciding if it's afraid of the bug.

Possibly a tapestry-like low-contrast is intentional, but I was wondering how an alternative interpretation would look, with the rock on the right darker and the bird lighter with more contrast. Had to try it -- hope you don't mind.