Avocet at dusk (I)

[Jean-Luc Vaillant]

I've been experimenting a bit with (very) low light captures of one of my favorite subject. Trashed most of the shots but liked a couple and would love some honest feedback/critique...

Here is the first one, taken with a 50D (new 1DIII was still in the mail)...

I tend to like breeding avocets best in cold/bluish light as the red "pops" even more IMHO.

Comments welcome,

JLuc


Canon 50D, 500mm IS +1.4x, 1/50s @ f5.6, ISO 1250, Noise Ninja

[Kobus Tollig]

Great comp and detail. Maybe a bit dark bit I like well done

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

It's a nice image Jean-Luc. It is lacking that nice golden glow, but you must have taken this after the sun dipped? Or before it rose? The comp is fine IMHO. :)

[Fabs Forns]

Very nice pose and BG, soft light too. Wish for a catch light in the eye. Some room at the bottom wouldn't help, I feel it's too tight on the feet.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle and soft light and wish for a bit head turn toward you and might sharpen the bird more.

[Stu Bowie]

Lovely low angle, and love the colours in this. Another round of selective sharpening on him will do him the world of good, but still a great image Jean-luc.

[Dan Walker]

Love the low angle and the color of the water, really does make it pop. Agree about the catchlight, he looks sad without it.

[Kim Rollins]

This may be one of those images where you were almost where you should have been but not quite.
You asked for honest critique so here it goes.
JLuc, POV is good here. This is really not a bad image and some post can help to improve it a lot.
I would like to see the image before any NR was used and I have to ask you if your NR was applied globally or selectively? The reason I ask is I think I can detect a catch light and wonder if that 'catch light' may have been 'smashed' a bit with the use of NR.
I would suggest a little Levels adjustment with possibly clipping 10 points or so from the light side (right).
Bird can be selected and some adjustment with Curves can benefit the color of the critter. Sharpening for size of the image can improve it, however I would be careful about how that sharpening is applied and I would do it selectively on the bird - USM at 360/0.2/0 and faded immediately to luminosity may be good.
Vignetting is apparent in the corners.
Last but not least is the lack of a catch light - as I stated above I wonder if one was there but damaged with NR - (simple fix).

With your permission I would be glad to work the image as I have suggested and post it or send it to you for your consideration.
Keep clicking.