Yellowlegs

[Scott Frye]

Greater Yellowlegs at Gilbert Water Ranch 09-11-2009

I decided to leave the reflection because the reflected eye is very sharp and shows a good catch light. That resulted in this squarish crop. If the reflection doesn't add to the overall image I do have options to crop it out. I also worked on straightening and tried several options before settling on this crop. I eventually tried to line up the reflected eye with the real eye -- and it seems to put the wavy lines a bit off. I like the meal and yellow legs that gives this shorebird its name.

1/2000 at f11 and ISO 800 EC-2
Bigma at 500mm
Canon 40D

[Ben Egbert]

Not a big fan of square crops, but this works. I think you need teh entire reflection here otherwise where would you crop without leaving a partial reflection?

I really like the image, sharp, good background etc. I am a bit distracted by the black piece of floatsum below the beak. But not sure I would do anything with it. Nice image, one I would love to have.

[John Chardine]

I like it Scott, and I had no idea yellowlegs ate fish! What next?!

I would give a bit more room at the top than at the bottom.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the composition, the fish and reflection add to it. I think it needs a bit CW rotation and it would be even stronger without the blue area in the foreground. Maybe a bit more sharpening of the bird?

[Joe Senzatimore]

Ithink the square crop was a good choice as I would not want to see you get rid of the reflection.

[Arthur Morris]

I am fine with the SH, the crop, the fish, and the BKGR. My only wish is that the bird's head were turned a bit toward you rather than a bit away.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Overall I like the image, but I'm finding the colours a little muddy...did you need to use the S/H on the whites? There are still a couple of burnt areas, with the most obvious one on the thigh. Good choice of crop, and I agree about CW rotation and HA.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Scott,
I love this as presented - I find the colours realistic and I like the action that you have caught.
Best,
Nicki

[Stu Bowie]

Scott, your comp works well, and good to see both the reflection and his catch. I agree a little CW rotation will work, and maybe lighten the eye.

[arash_hazeghi]

Great shot Scott, love the light and feather details as well as the ripples, not to mention the fish. I am not crazy about the reflections but it is a very good photo overall. TFS