My form of painting - common loon on windy day

[Randy Stout]

This common loon was imaged last summer on a windy day in Northern Michigan. Staying with the birds and keeping properly lined up when the wind is substantial, is a challenge. I may have to start bringing a pilot along to drive the boat while I shoot. (Not going to happen actually, since no one in my family seems excited about getting up at 3:30 am to get on the water before sunrise. )

I really like this site because of the reeds in the background and the yellow flowers.

D500 600VR f/7.1 1/1000s, ISO 500. Shot from the bottom of my little, bobbing boat!

Post: Cropped for comp, removed a few water spots, selective sharpening. Actually toned down the yellow flower sig. compared with original. I have room above and below from this crop. Originally had more of the reeds showing above, but I felt they overpowered the bird visually.
Toned down the whites on the breast. They weren't blown, but wanted a bit more of the texture to show. I lost a bit of that in the conversion from pro RGB to sRGB

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[annmpacheco]

Excellent artistic image Randy, like the detail and sharpness w the loon and then the melty BG. I was all set to offer copiloting help until you said, "not going to happen!" if you change your mind... Fabulous Picasso...

[gail bisson]

I really like this image Randy.
Your usual nice low POV.
I am not sure about the yellow flower. It really pulls my eye away.
I would tone the yellow in the flower down.
Good IQ and nice HA,
Gail

[John Whaley]

I like this one. Beautiful light and Background. IQ is high and the green blue water makes the black and white feathers pop. Agree that the yellow flower is a bit distracting.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks for your input! Although I love the flowers in this location, and do like to include them when possible, I tried a version with it toned down to the level of the general background, and it does tend to keep our eye on the bird. I also did a version where I moved the flowers to the left side of the frame further, which was less distracting, but settled on the version below.

Cheers

Randy

[gail bisson]

I like this a lot better. A+
gail

[Bill Dix]

Gorgeous, painterly image. Repost helps. In addition to the Monet-like BG, I love the blue highlights in the water. And of course the Loon. Beautifully captured. From my limited experiences in kayaks and canoes in a moderate breeze, I can't imagine how you can keep the boat aligned and the bird in the frame in a stiff breeze; but the breeze certainly did wonders for the lovely water and BG.

[William Dickson]

Repost it looking real good. Fabulous POV and BG. Lovely detail and HA. Good work Randy.

Will

[Arthur Morris]

Once I started I could not stop ...

with love, artie

[Randy Stout]

Artie:

Thanks for taking the time to work on my image.

Cheers

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Artie:

Thanks for taking the time to work on my image.

Cheers

Randy

Mon pleasir. I should have mentioned: mostly Patch Tool and Content Aware Fill.

with love, artie