Reaching for the sky - Spoonbill on Tampa Bay

[Randy Stout]

This fellow was imaged several years ago while out with Capt. Shadle on Tampa Bay. I liked the one leg, stretching pose, as if yearning to be up in the sky.

D700 600VR TC14II EFL 850mm f/5.6 1/3200s ISO 640 Taken from Gitzo, standing in the Bay.

Post: Originally shot as landscape, cropped to vertical to fit the pose. Added a sliver of canvas below to give more room for the virtual leg/foot. There was a dark shoreline at the very top of the frame which I softened. A few spots in the water cleaned. The blue band in the water was untouched.

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Love the diagonal comp. Not sure if I like the strip of blue or not.
It would have looked awesome with a lot of blue IMHO.
The green on the water is just out of this world.
Nice pose and eye contact.
TFS!

[John Robinson]

Hi Randy.
Don't mind the BG- looks OK to me.
Its the old problem I have with reflections !-to chop or not to chop !
Still great pic whatever
John

[Joseph Przybyla]

Love the image, just wish both legs were showing. Photographing in Florida almost exclusively I see many birds with only one leg or a stump of a leg, alligators I think are the cause. I like the colors and background, the blue band and darker area above appears like it could be dark sky above the blue sky. Thank you for sharing, Randy.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks guys.

Joe, I am pretty sure the other leg is there, as I worked this one for a while. It has been a few years, so will need to go back into the archives to check for sure.

Cheers

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Very interesting pose with the pointing slightly open beak, Randy. Nice background.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like pretty much everything about the image, but I do feel it may be a touch bright overall...maybe it's just me though. Boy I'm about due to get back to Florida.....

[Randy Stout]

Thanks Karl and Daniel:

Dan- I made two versions, this one, and another just a bit darker. Both have their appeal to me. Perhaps I should just split the difference and call it good.

Yes, I think spending a couple of weeks in Florida with Capt. James would be outstanding.

Randy

[gail bisson]

This is really nice Randy. A very unusual pose.
Another vote for a little less bright. I like the IQ and your PP,
Gail

[Randy Stout]

OK - bowing to popular demand, here is a version with -9 points on brightness. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Randy

[christopher galeski]

nice colourful image ,like the pose,nice BG and green water,prefer the OP.TFS.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Randy, love the pose looking skywards, and on one leg. Well exposed, and I like the colours, together with the water's reflection showing across the body and wing. Lovely colourful layered BG. Im fine with your OP with regards to 'brightness', and when looking at your repost, its very subtle, so cant see much difference IMO.