Snowy Egret in B&W

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Let me know if the B&W works....and if this crop works. Shot in early evening light. No flash.

40d. 300f/4 non-IS + 1.4x.
iso400. f/5.6. 1/2500. No exp. comp. Pulled down shadows a bit when converting to B&W in DPP. I did some noise reduction using Neat Image.

All critiques welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Randy Stout]

Kaustubh:

Interesting treatment, I like trying different looks.

My biggest concern with this image is the lack of detail in the whites. Perhaps you can pull in a bit more with a reprocessing of the raw file.

Perhaps a bit more canvas at the bottom for the 'virtual' feet.

I am a little unclear what is going on at the water line in the background. DOF couldn't explain the sharp line there.

I think it is a neat idea to explore.

Keep them coming.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Thanks Randy for the suggestions. Let me know if this repost looks better.

About the water line....the egret is on a small dam. The dam is overflowing and water is falling over it on the other side.

[Randy Stout]

Kautubh:

Definitely more detail in the repost, it helps round out the image. Pure white birds are always a challenge.

Thanks for the detail on the dam.

Randy

[Jean-Luc Vaillant]

I'd love to see the color original as I like the pose, the composition and (with the repost) the amount of detail. Not totally convinced by the B&W treatment.

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely pose - detail in the repost a definite improvement.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Thanks for all the comments. Here is the color version.

[Tony Whitehead]

Nothing wrong with the colour version! The sharp edge of the dam against the BG is a bit disconcerting until you know why. May be a case for the bird in colour with a desat BG.

[Randy Stout]

Kaustubh:

Although a big fan of B&W, I prefer the color version for this image.

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Good stuff above and the repost is better but two major points have been overlooked:

1: there needs to be a bit more room below for the virtual feet.
2: the image needs some CCW rotation.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: I much prefer the color version.

[Randy Stout]

Hey Artie:

I noted the virtual foot issue in my first post. Didn't catch the rotation issue however :)

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Artie:

I noted the virtual foot issue in my first post. Didn't catch the rotation issue however :)

Randy

Sorry that I missed that and good job. I try not to read the posts too carefully before commenting....

[Randy Stout]

Artie:

I do completely agree about reading all the other posts before I make up my mind. I look at the image 1st, make up my mind, then see what other people have said. I do try to attribute things to the original poster of an idea.

This is also why I like to add the first comment when possible, because I feel I learn the most, have to really think about what "I" am seeing, not letting others see things for me. Then later I go back and see what others saw that I missed!

Cheers

Randy

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Thanks. I also missed the CCW rotation. Now I have done that in my master file.

I dont have more room in the orig capture for virtual feel. I had my camera in horizontal comp. as I was waiting for it to strike a fish :-) wishful thinking. And since the water is very shallow, I did not think I needed more room that there is. I will keep that in mind the next time.