Pretty cool, I like the angle, colors, eye contact, calm water and sharpness. I might crop a tad off the bottom, tone down the whites a bit and try to get more details in the blacks. I would also remove the sheen on the raised foot. I want to stress that I like it a lot. :)
I agree with Axel on the crop, but I have to say that this is one of the best shorebird images I have seen in a long while. I love the light, the dynamic pose, and the great BG. My personal preference would be to leave in the specular highlights.
This image has a very nice 'feel' - the colours are all very sympathetic and the angle on the bird and its pose all add interest.
Axel, there appears to be plenty of detail in both the white and the black areas of this birds plumage on my monitor and yet you ask for more, whereas with the juv semi palmated plover (above no.45117) the whites look brighter - although still with detail - and you appear to consider them OK.
The spur-winged plover is a bird I have often photographed and the whites and blacks often prove very problematical, particularly as they are often in bright light. The light in this image is quite soft and low and has produced a very nice effect.
Fabulous Gal. The subject, lighting and BG are all very complementary. Whites and blacks look good on my monitor. I would crop the small OOF part of the body reflecting in the water at the botoom and I think a dodge of the eye and surroundings with lift the face some.
Looking on my laptop, I feel you have the exposure spot on. The detail is there, and I like the softer light in this. I would take a bit off the bottom, but I would also add a bit on top too. Overall, still a fine image Gal.
Good one Gal. super colour light and exposure. I like the comp but agree with Axel on the crop.
I might lighten the eye just a tad.
Agree this is a fine image.