Pied-billed Grebe With Catfish

[Joseph Przybyla]

This image is one from the past that I recently worked up again, deleting all past work and beginning again. I kept the crop loose because the bird was small in the frame and I liked the reflections and colors in the background. I recently posted the image but took it down because looking at the image as posted I thought the background colors were too saturated. Image captured at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VR AF-S ED, camera and lens supported by a monopod
1/1600 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV +1 ISO 1000 Auto WB, image captured at 400mm (600mm 35mm Equivalent)
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2023 and Topaz Denoise AI
Cropped for composition and presentation

P.S. Learn more about Circle B Bar Reserve in the BAA Middle Florida Photography Site Guide that Artie and I co-authored. It is available at this link https://birdsasart-shop.com/the-baa-...ic-site-guide/

[Daniel Cadieux]

With the subject so small in the frame I think it would have worked better with it even more closely tucked into the lower left corner, even if that means cutting the ripples a bit. I also see what appears to be cloning artifacts center-left edge. The prey item looks big and juicy - such great hunters these grebes eh! Just like you, I too like the BG colours!

[Jonathan Ashton]

I appreciate the decision for small in the frame but somehow the image is not quite attention grabbing enough. I suspect Dan has a good point regarding a different crop.

[Dorian Anderson]

I agree with Jon on this one; the subject doesn't demand enough attention in the super wide surrounds.