Doublecrested Cormorant

[Dave Leroy]

Taken a few days ago at an old fish cannery site near the mouth of Canoe Pass, Fraser River. I noticed the halo on the departing bird from Refine Edge and decided to leave it in.. 50D, 500mm f/4 at f/4.5, 1/90, ISO400. I cropped some off right and bottom. Dave

[Aidan Briggs]

Though I like the image design and yawning pose, I really think the other cormorant should go. It really isn't adding anything to the image here. I am not sure, but it looks to me like there is also a color cast here.

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks Aidan. Perhaps I am trying to make too much out of too little. I have the shot in mind and need more patience. I had tried to replicate the colour of the light of the water which was a bit different. Dave

[Randy Stout]

Dave:

I rather like this, it seems like the foreground bird is calling to a departing friend/mate?

I took the liberty of moving the background bird in and up. I thought it helped balance the comp a bit. The three subjects now fall in a roughly triangular arrangement, which generally works well with three subjects.

Although the foreground subjects are very strong, the isolation of the distant bird does add some weight to its impact.

I might be tempted to remove the stick coming up off the left piling. I left it in, and positioned the back bird so the stick also tends to lead your eye towards it (besides the previously mentioned triangular positioning.)

I would remove the halo effect around the bird.

Simple images like this have lots of scope for trying different things. Almost like a painting, where you can choose where to place the objects, to maximize the impact/composition.

The horizontal lines in the water play well against the verticals of the pilings.

Thanks for sharing.

Randy

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks Randy. You have given me lots of good ideas. You certainly have my intent correct of the one bird calling to another which is departing. I had looked at the triangle also and it was not there, but certainly moving the departing bird makes the difference. Thanks again. It is much appreciated. Dave