American Oystercatcher

[Joseph Przybyla]

On my most recent trip to Ft. Desoto I captured this image of an Oystercatcher wing flap. 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)
1/1250 F/5.6 Matrix Metering -1/3 EV ISO 200 AWB, camera supported by a monopod
Post processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Bill Dix]

Great pose. Whites and blacks both look pretty good on my screen, especially considering what looks like fairly strong sun.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Bill, thanks for viewing and commenting. The light is Florida in the summer, this was taken about one half to an hour after sunrise. It is like puff and it is bright.

[Graham Wilkes]

I do like this image, blacks/whites look good, showing detailed view of underwing and caught well with both wings raised.
I like the composition, nice blue water and the little wave of bubbled water.
Maybe a little more space at the top.

Graham

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Joe, nice timing, although I think you could have gone to ISO400 with no change to IQ, but gained a tad more SS which doesn't hurt.

I think there is a lot more you can tease out from the image, especially in the whites, believe me some cracking detail there - some nice detail even in the legs too which the OP is lacking. If you have the chance & time, I would revisit the image. Not sure if there is some mixed purples/Magenta creeping in at the foot within the sea. Add a Graduate filter at the foot to bring some exposure back.

TFS
Steve

[John Whaley]

Great timing on the pose. The image looks sharp with super feather detail and clear bright eye. Agree with a bit more space at the top.

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the angle and exposure, nice light too. I agree with trying to extract more details and wish the wings were full raised

TFS

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing, commenting and suggesting ways to improve the image. Using your critique, especially Steve and Ari, I went back to the original and started from the beginning. This is a edit and repost implementing the suggestions offered.

[Steve Kaluski]

Good improvement Joe, kodos in going back and RP.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing, commenting and suggesting improvements, very much appreciated.