Purple Sandpiper in Habitat

[Grace Scalzo]

Yes, lots of habitat! Looking forward to your opinions on this one. :)

1/1000, f 5.6, iso800
Canon 1dx, 600f4+ 1.4tc + lowered rrs tripod (Seated on ground)

[gail bisson]

Hi Grace,
I have looked at this a couple of times.
I love, love the bird standing on that sheet of ice/water that is covering the rock.IQ and sharpness are perfect.
Bird looks so confident with the raised leg even though that looks like a precarious perch.
The first slab of granite is beautiful ( could see that in my bathroom!) and the second slab is OK and I like the diagonal line created by these rocks but that third slab is too close to the bill and makes the whole left side of the frame quite heavy.
It would be interesting to see a version with that third slab cloned out with content aware tool. But that is a huge alteration of the image...
Gail

[John Rowell]

Grace, I really like this image as it scales the Sandpiper so well against the habitat. IQ is terrific with the bird nicely sharpened to bring it out in the photo. The only think I would have wished for is a bit more room between the tip of the bill and the large rock, but still very nice as it is.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful shot of the Sandpiper, but even before reading Gail's comments I had the same reaction. Just a little too much oof heaviness on the left. If you had been able to move to your left it might have diminished the impact of the rocks, but of course that can be difficult on a jetty. (btw, I still haven't gotten to Barnegat this winter; will let you know if I go.)

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the bird, techs are great. I am also not a fan of the huge rock on the left side.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot Grace I think the bird is excellent but I am sorry to say I feel the large rock on the left is overpowering.

[Mike Poole]

Grace,

I have the same feelings as the comments above - the bird is superb and the raised foot is great, but while I like lots of background interest, the rocks are just too overpowering.

Mike

[Grace Scalzo]

No worries, BPN friends. That was my problem with the image too. I tend to get obsessed with a species from time to time and right now it is purples, having found a small flock fairly close to home. The trick is going to be incorporating pleasing but not overpowering habitat so stay tuned! Thanks for your input.

[adrian dancy]

I love the bird and I love the rock ...but not the two together The image is however interesting. Techs are good and I'm sure I would have made the shot given the opportunity.

[Randy Stout]

Grace:

Great bits, but the combination is a bit awkward as mentioned. I also will get an image sometimes that I really want to work, but end up abandoning it , or putting it aside to revisit at a later date, to be certain of my feelings about it.

Good luck with finding just the perfect purple sandpiper!

Cheers

Randy

[Grace Scalzo]

Got it! have another image for tomorrow. Stay tuned. Thanks for confirming my thoughts on this one.

[William Dickson]

All been said Grace. Very nice image, great capture with lovely colours throughout.

Will