Pied-billed Grebe

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this Pied-billed Grebe early one morning is November at Circle B Bar Reserve. The bird caught the fish in shallow water amongst vegetation then swan to open water where it released and recaptured the fish turning it to swallow. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm (600mm FFE)
1/1600 F/5.6 Matrix Metering + 1 EV ISO 900
Post processed in Lightroom 5 and Photoshop Elements 10
Cropped about 60% of full frame for composition

[Diane Miller]

These little guys are SO cute! The fish is a great element -- I wonder where birds manage to fit these fish that look too big for them. And I love the reflection!

Small in the frame works here, for me, as it obviously wasn't a frame-filling opportunity. I really like the inclusion of the green reflection at the top, as its brightness isn't too heavy. If there is more at the bottom edge, I wonder how including a squeak more there would look?

[Jonathan Ashton]

A fine shot, good timing. I think perhaps the grebe is just little low in the frame

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Joseph, great angle from the Grebe, and with him showing off his catch. Small in the frame works for me too in this, and love the overall colours. Going with Diane, I would move the grebe up and in a touch in the frame.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing, commenting and offering suggestions. Here is the image with the Grebe moved slightly higher in the frame. Thanks again.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice action shot, Joe. The repost works better.

[Diane Miller]

I like the placement in the frame in the RP but now see why you cropped, to remove the brighter areas in the LL that pull the eye there. I think they could be cloned out very nicely, taking an already-excellent image up a notch.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Dianne, thanks for stopping back in. Through the magic of Photoshop now it is excellent....