Tangerine Surise

[Brian Sump]

American Avocet taken just before sunrise in late spring.

FYI, the lighter fringe around the head is in the raw, not a pp remnant. I think it is a sort of rim lighting effect in the finer head plumage just as the sun was eclipsing the horizon. Lighter part on top of beak is similar with water on the bridge.

Feedback welcome.

R5
600mm
Handheld
ISO 2000
1/800
f4

LR and PS, selective DN. Blended the water line which was at the very bottom of the frame, and blended a few select rocks to reduce attention there.

[Ian McLachlan]

Yes you have a bit all round lighting effect .In any case it is spectacular and a great example of what wonderful effects can be pulled out of lovely even lightswhen the direct sunlight has just lipped out .I like the way the colours merge together on the bird so softly.Beautiful Brian.

[Jonathan Ashton]

A most elegant image, beautiful colours, pleasing pose. I am not keen on the base, i.e. the flat base and angled upper surface. May consider taking a slice off the bottom and depending upon what the outsized rocks were like I would reintroduce them for me it's a beautiful image but a little manicured in appearance - too clean. Maybe it's because perfect scenes are few and far between in the UK so when I see one it looks false.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Amigo ... does look very appealing to me , very simple and effective . Can partly understand Jon´s thinking in terms of " over clean " look .But this is part of your way to photograph and editing .... do not get me wrong , but things are becoming too sterile at times IMHO . Too much of the " SUMP STYLE " ... if you know what I mean .

Login at the MBP so I keep my technical critique short .... just trusting your skill. Pleasing overall color , tone and details .

TFS Andreas

[Dorian Anderson]

This is a really striking image, Brian. The lighting and orange tones are beautiful, and the raised foot adds a nice touch of action. One on hand I can hear the comments about the earthen bit looking a bit too manicured; on the other, that's how most of my images look! So, it seems mostly personal preference. Processing looks spot on regardless.

[John Mack]

I don't know what I like more the bird or that gorgeous color in the background. The raised foot is nice and the point of view is bang on.

[Steve Kaluski]

The missing left foot sadly kills it for me Brian. A few frames on would have been perfect.

TFS
Steve

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love clean images like this as well, so this aspect does not bother me at all - but I can see where the comments about it go. When shorebirding this time of year I always get to the location early, before the action starts, and clean the beach area of all sticks, feathers, goose droppings, and other debris that may have washed up ashore overnight, and most often it becomes this type of clean...so I'm all in!

I love the curves of the bill, head, neck. The raised foot adds a ton of interest. Talk about a perfect background too! Like Steve, I wish the grounded foot was visible. Overall, pretty sweet!

[kevin Hice]

Beautiful image again. Brian just love the tangerine goes so well with the spring plumage. Just outstanding love that foot.TFS

[Brian Sump]

Thank you for the feedback folks

[dankearl]

Magnificent,,, really, as nice as it gets.

[Kurt Bowman]

Love the BG color, the raised foot and the head turn Brian! Great frame!

[Arthur Morris]

Too clean? You've got to be kidding me. This one absolutely glows. The BKGR colors are to die for and the raised foot puts this one over the top for me.

Maybe you should have added a few cigarette butts???

Much love, a

[Arthur Morris]

ps; Forgot to mention the perfect head turn for the facing pose.

a