Wild Rice

[mikedelaney]

digital rebel
70-300mm
f 5.6
1/640 sec.
ISO 100
this is another one of my favorites. for many centuries migrating birds used wild rice as a staple in their diet.
invasive species almost wiped the wild rice out.
thanks to great management by the national fish and wildlife service this plant, in my county, has rebounded and grows again plentifully enough for the birds to feed on their migrations south in the fall.

[Harold Davis]

hi mike!! like your subject and the story. good to know that someone cares!! for images like this, i think simpler is better and the addition of the plants in the bg take away from the overall feel of the image. maybe if they were on the same plane or growing in the same direction, it would be better. the rice plant that is the focus of the photo is also cut off on the tip. i would try to include all of the top of the seedhead.

[Desmond Chan]

I basically agree with Harold re the background and the cut-off. I like the lighting though.

[Nonda Surratt]

Nice story and I also like the light, very nice!!!

Agree with Mr H on the rest

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Mike,
I like the background OOF shaft but agree that including all the seedhead would greatly improve an already good image.

[Alfred Forns]

Another nod to Harold's comment !!! Mike this image with only the foreground plant would be killer !!!! I like it a lot !!! btw you can do something similear with more light ... rising/setting sun behind !!!

[mikedelaney]

thanks you all. like i said, it is one of my favorites. i agree with the tip being cut off, i didn't see it when i shot it.

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great image Mike, agree with the above comments regarding the foreground plant.
Excellent colors and lighting.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

As above!!