Yes or No? (copied from Avian)

[Fabs Forns]

We all know that birds are supposed to be coming at us. It's one of those unwritten rules. But all rules have exceptions.
My questions is, would this be one of the exceptions? Is the action and setting enough to carry the picture?
Let's look at it pretending we don't know anything, look at it with the eyes of a child.
And tell me your honest opinion. Those of you who are shy, can just vote.
Is it a yes, a no or just not sure?

Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens (mm): 400 (100-400L IS)
ISO: 500
Aperture: 6.3
Shutter: 1/1600

[Jackie Schuknecht]

My vote would be yes because it is a behaviour and I find myself getting absorbed by all the action of the bird, waves, and water droplets.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Fabs,

Greetings. Er, it's a nay for me, I think the subject and the focus of the shot is too obscured by the splash and it's a difficult composition (maybe a lot tighter 3x1 crop would work, but I can't tell for the size) to my eye.

(it is challenging to look as though with a child's eye, since I've seen skimmer shots of almost the exact same orientation reversed with the splash behind ;))

Cheers,

-Michael-

[denise ippolito]

Fabs, I like it. I think it shows the behavior well.

[Christopher Miller]

Works for me, Fabs. I like the action and IMO the wing pose, the splash, and the wave behind create a nice flowing composition.

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and it works for me. Of course ... H.A. is not my highest priority in images.

I agree with your statement, that the image is more important than the rules. All rules are guidelines, unless they can not be violated. But what can't in composition, when the image is right. But ...

Your image ... your vision.

[Dave Woeller]

I will vote yes. The shot tells a story for me, call it behaviour if you want. I'll also dare to say that sometimes we do get overburdened with rules, and sometimes lose out by living too close to those constraints. Just my opinion.

[Harold Davis]

if the bird wasnt creating such a commotion splashing all the water around, you might be able to see the eye. you can still see enough of the head. i think it's cool as heck. if i was going to do anything to it, i would crop just a slither off the bottom, just to where the white in the reflection begins. but that doesnt change a lot about the image. that's just picky!!!!! KEEPER!!!!!

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks, guys! Actually in the big picture the eye is visible. The splash will not let it show here at this size.

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Nope, doesn't work for me. The splash hiding the subject is a big negative. I do think that the black skimmer is well suited for a rear angle shots; the important, and distinctively skimmer like, wake in the water surface left by feeding is actually best seen from a slightly rear view (or at least a side view). IMO the most important elements in skimmer images are the curious bill, eyes, and the water wake, and all fall short in this image.
I am not adverse to breaking the so called "rules", yet I think it very important to know what they are, and if you do decide to break them, you should have a good reason! regards~Bill

[allanrube]

I would like it better if the water was smooth - the wave takes away from the image for me.