Green Heron #2

[Daniel Belasco]

This is a little different than the first image from this series. The heron has moved over closer to the dead palm branch and the reflection is better than the first image. This is at 310mm on the canon 100-400 zoom whereas the first image was at 220mm.
canon 1dMKIIN 1/400 sec at f8 iso 800 ev -1/3

[Marion Ehrlich]

I like your photograph as it looks like an art picture! The very special composition and the colours of the heron on the dead palm branches with the reflection...I find it very artsy.
Greetings,
Marion

[Raul Quinones]

Like the colors on the water, the bird and reflection may benefit from a bit more contrast. The reflection looks a little noisy and the birds look like some PP soften it, maybe noise reduction.

[Aidan Briggs]

I like the overall idea, though there are a few things that could be improved. First I would rotate the image so that it is level. Then I would selectively lighten the heron as it looks too dark IMO. I also might remove the two twigs growing straight up in front of the bird, if your personal ethics allow it.

With a few improvements I think this image would have a lot of artistic merit.

[Daniel Belasco]

Hi Raul. I used the dodge tool very slightly on the heron and refletion to bring out more detail and you said it lost contrast. How else could I keep the detail on the heron? Or should I not have lightened the heron and kept the detail in the unprocessed image?
Hi Aidan. I was told to line up the beaks in the image and reflection to make sure the image is level. This might be off half a degree. Is this what you are talking about? Or is there so other indication that the image is not level?
Remove the 2 twigs. Ok I see that. But wouldn't I have to recompose the image as the removal would unbalance the image? I try not to change the image too much from nature, but I do appreciate the comment. I try to compose as much as possible in the camera, but obviously with birds that is difficult.

[Aidan Briggs]

Daniel, I think you are right about the rotation. As for the twigs, I don't think removing them would unbalance the image. Though if you wanted to strengthen the composition, you might try a small crop from the left side.