The living and the dead

[Grace Scalzo]

Common tern chicks from several years ago. The longer I photograph, the more I like photos that tell a stroy. While the inclination may be to feel bad about the dead one, they certainly don't all make it, and if you observe nature with an open mind, you realize just how perfect it is.

1/1000, f5.6, iso800
Canon 1dmk4, 500f4 + 1.4tc + fill flash

[Joseph Przybyla]

This image sure tells a story of nature. A sad but lovely image, nicely composed and processed. Thank you for sharing.

[Bill Dix]

Quite a lovely and poignant image, Grace. I love the chick's pose with raised foot and open beak, and the tiny forest. Terrific low POV. Nicely done.

[Marina Scarr]

This is a very powerful image, Grace! What a sad but terrific story this image portrays. I just took this image into PS and I would personally tighten it up just a bit, on all sides except the top. Only a bit b/c I find there's a bit too much green on the left and I feel with a little less on the bottom the dead chick is a stronger subject.

[Karl Egressy]

Great image, Grace. I just read Marina's comment and I fully agree about what she said regarding cropping it tighter to eliminate the OOF green on the left.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like it a lot Grace. The inclusion of the deceased one is a strong story-telling element. The vegetation looks amazing. I'm not super fond of the oof greens at left so Marina's suggestion makes sense to me, too.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot very atmospheric, my first reaction was a little too much green on the left, I agree with Marina's assessment.

[Robert Kimbrell]

A powerful and beautiful image Grace. It really does tell a story, A little off the left for me also.

[Grace Scalzo]

Thank you for your great suggestions. I felt that the comp was off and kept seeing the green as a bit of a frame and also the bird seemed too centered when I took from the left. I'll rework this and repost. Really appreciate your opinions.

[keith mitchell]

Grace apart from that green bit to the left it certainly works for me, lovely piece of work look forward to your repost.

Keith.

[William Dickson]

Love it Grace. Who needs words with an image telling its own story Cool

Will

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Really great story told with this shot Grace.
I love it.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose and details, the elements of the habitat really add to this image and provide a scale to show the tiny size of this chick. I wonder what this image would look like with focus stacking to bring the dead chick into focus and thus viewer's attention a bit more...

TFS very nice