Theme: Down The Barrel Avocet

[Ian Cassell]

Canon 7D
Canon EF400mm f/5.6L
1/800sec f/5.6 ISO 800 HH

S/H and Sharpening in CS5. Cloned a bit of debris off the water surface.

[Marina Scarr]

Hi Ian:

The color of the water is superb, and the avocet is well exposed and sharp, except for the tip of the bill. I am not sure the composition is working to best suit your subject here. I wonder whether this was cropped and, if so, what the original looks like. I feel the bird is cramped.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Marina. Only a minimal crop, so I'd have to add canvas if I were to free him up.

[Mikko Viljamaa]

I agree with Marina and wonder if more room for the bird would make this even better.

Mikko

[Grady Weed]

I have always liked the golden water, sun reflecting in, it adds a very nice feel to any image. Nice details in the whites, sharp eyes and beak, love the expression created here. A bit tight, but if full frame, o well. Thanks for sharing this pleasing image.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Gorgeous water colour and I like the plump head-on view. I agree it looks a bit cramped in the frame. I'm not crazy about the bit of belly reflection at bottom edge...more of it showing would be better IMO. I feel that fill-flash would have done wonders to the image, including catchlights for the eyes. Did you need to lighten the underside and left side of the bird in post?

[Ian Cassell]

Thank you. No, Daniel, no selective lightening here. I agree that fill-flash might have helped. I never seem to have my flash with me when it would be most useful.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks Ian