Another avocet

[wendell westfall]

D70s 70-200VR+2X@250 1/2500 f/6.3 ISO800 -1/3EV handheld

This is another avocet from a couple days ago. I'm particularly interested to know about the crop and the reflection. Is it good to use a reflection if it is not "perfect", as this one is not? Seems to me, in this case, the image looks better left in than cropped out? What do you think?

Wendell

[Harold Davis]

i like the crop and the reflection. looks good. just the whites on the bird are a little over. i think you may be able to multiply them in Ps and get some detail back there. according to my histogram, they are just over a bit. nice light angle, wendell. just maybe a little harsh for going after this bird with the whites and blacks. would clean up that white spec in the water too.

[Gus Cobos]

A mighty fine capture indeed Wendell, Doctor Davis is correct with his fine assessment...I like this very much...just tone down the whites, and you are good to go...:)looking forward to your next one...congrats...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Critiques nailed !!! Can only add to have a little more room behind for the water circles !!! Excellent !!!

[Kerry Perkins]

Good job Wendell. You really got the color rendition right in this one! In addition to previous suggestions I would add that you might want to run some noise reduction on the BG. Doing NR on just the blue channel could be good.

[wendell westfall]

Thanks to all . . . and every suggestion improved my image . . .

[Julian Mole]

Hi Wendell,

I haven't provided any opinions/ critiques so far, only images (as I am very much a beginner), but as Mr Morris is keen for everyone to get more involved I feel I shall give it a go!

I really like your photo, hence being moved to comment, however I think it would benefit from the crop being more generous on either side of the bird (initially I thought just the left, but then read Mr Forns comment about the rings in the water - so reconsidered!)

Hope this doesn't chuck a fly in the ointment, given the consensus that went before!

Julian.

PS. Have added a very rough version of what it might look like.

[Julian Mole]

Or perhaps;

[wendell westfall]

Julian, I think you made the image better with your crop -- I prefer the second one.

I was in your beautiful, hospitable town for a week a few years ago (a C. S. Lewis seminar/workshop); you are a lucky guy to be living amongst that history and learning. However, many birds I did not see.

[Julian Mole]

Hey Wendell,

Glad you liked the crop I provided. (Initially I preferred the first version but after consideration I decided I liked the second one better. Hence posting it!)

Also, good to hear that you enjoyed your time in Oxford. :-)

[Lance Peters]

Julian nice work - and GOOD ON YOU for having a go - everyones opinion is valid and I am glad you took the plunge.!!!

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hi Wendell,

Your American Avocett is more colourful than our European version - here they are strictly black & white - also look really good. I've been chasing them around the pond (figuratively!) myself recently and they are really skittish. Surprised you got so close at 250mm! Were you in a hide or just well placed?

I was wondering, is this a juvenile - thus the fluffy feathers?

Regards,

Gerald

[wendell westfall]

I took a look at "your" avocet, Gerald, and note the huge difference in appearance -- I like both. I sat on the bank in the open for a long time and luckily this one came to me. No, I don't think it is a juvenile, though there were a couple juvys in the area (I think I will post one of them later); its feathers had been wet many times as I watched that morning.