Excuse me while I re-adjust myself !

[Dave Woeller]

Caught this guy at Higbee Beach in Cape May and tried to remember some of the tips I have learned here. I hope it shows some improvement. Got as low as I could, but the slope of the beach still makes it look a touch high. It is cropped to eliminate a gull in the upper right. I used selective color ( neutrals and whites ) and selective sharpening to enhance the bird. Man these guys are small and fast. As always I appreciate all guideance.
Canon 40D
F 5.6
1/1500 sec
ISO 400

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Dave,
What a sweet image! Sharpness and feather detail look good, the colours are lovely and you are safe from the dreaded HAP on this one for sure!! The only thing that I would suggest would be lightening the image a tad, and you could consider cropping just a little from the top and the bottom. Very well done!
Regards,
Nicki

[Cheryl Flory]

Nice image! agree with Nicki's comments on the sharpness, feather detail, and head angle. I would crop more from the bottom, but very little from the top. Can you darken the bg to help the bird stand out more?

[Dave Woeller]

Thank you Nicki and Cheryl. I had considered cropping just a tad tighter, but was afraid I would be told I didn't leave him enough room. Using the techniques that I'm learning here makes the suggestions of darkening the BG, or lightening less of a panic moment than before:D If I crop from the top and bottom just a bit, do you feel that there will be too much dead space on the left?

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Dave Sure looks good !!! Fully agree with the advice !!

Image only cropped to show my idea of cropping. Negative space wise looks fine. I like this image a lot. btw to get close to these guys just stay low and they will wander right in front of you. No need to chase them !!!

[Dave Woeller]

Thanks for the re-post Alfred. The shot still looks well balanced with your version. Did you also do a slight curves adjustment? It looks a bit brighter and better defined to me. By the way, I did notice that the longer I laid on the beach, the more comfortable the birds became with my presence. Cooool !

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Dave Yes very slight curves to brighten the bird, just habit but had no complaints with yours as presented.

btw take extension tubes with you since they will work withing minimal focusing distance !!!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Dave - nice - Al's repost is better for me - like it a lot.

[Dave Woeller]

Thanks lance, and yes I do agree with you. Alfreds is much more alive.

[Harold Davis]

very sharp image, dave!! looks great and i do like al's repost a lot!! nice job!!

[Oscar Zangroniz]

You have a great low angle for this shot. Do agree with the lack of sharpness in the original post. Al's post really makes it stand out more.
Either ways, Big Congrats