Pelicans and Sunset Composite revisited

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 @ 400mm. ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/4000s; matrix metering @ -1.0 EV. HH

After hundreds of frames unsuccessfully trying to tell the pelicans where to fly across this dramatic sunset, I gave up and pasted a pair where I wanted them. I posted a pano version of this last night on the ETL forum, but since it is a composite I've posted it here as well after making a few tweaks -- I cropped to 3:2 format, shifted sun and horizon to approximate the ROT, and further desaturated. Not sure which I like better, but here it is. C&C appreciated.

[denise ippolito]

Bill, Awesome looking sunset and you did a great job w/ the composite. I love the gold swirls around the sun and the bright orange sky.Nicely done.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks for the kind comments, Denise.

[Michael Zajac]

Bill, Beautiful colors and the composite work is very good. I might like the birds down in the frame just a hair and a tiny bit off the top. But it is still a really nice composition. Just another option.

[Arthur Morris]

I like the basic COMP but might take a bit off of the bottom. I would definitely make the birds blacker. If you need help on that, let me know.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Beautiful sunset and composite work Bill.

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful composition. Love the colors here.

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application Bill.

Won't comment on sunset, as my screen shows bright red! Denise mentions orange. Probably mine is off.

I do think you could use some noise reduction though. Seems to be a little in there.

I won't change the crop. I think you have a good comp, personally.