Juvenile Black-necked Stilt

[Robert Holguin]

Hello everyone. Here is a pic of this young stilt I was able to capture while the older ones let wonder off a bit. Also dont know if the reflection works. Part was being reflected of a wet patch of mud. Hope you enjoy. C&C welcomed and encouraged.
Camera - Nikon 300s, Lense - 200-400 w/1.4tc, Exposure - 1/640, Aperture - F8, ISO - 320, Exposure Bias - -1/3 EV, Metering - Multi Segment, Focal Length - 550mm, Aperture Priority.

[Randy Stout]

Robert:

Very fresh and sweet looking, nice shooting angle. Nice environmental component without being overpowering. Might tone down the brightest reeds just to the right of his tail.

Needs a small CCW rotation based on ripples, and I might try to move him just a bit right in the frame.

I would probably crop up a bit more from the bottom, since the reflection isn't strong. Small balancing crop from top then as well.

Cheers

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

Love the low angle, foraging pose, habitat. Good techs, nice details. Agree with rotation. Had the reflection been complete at bottom this would have been great as a full reflection vertical. As is there is a bit much at top...wonder if a horizontal with less at top and more room at left (if you have it) would work. Lots of options here!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Robert, very nice work. low angle, pose, habitat...excellent stuff. very intimate "in their world" feel here. If mine, I'd make it a little warmer.

[Kurt Bowman]

I like the angle, exposure and pose. However, instead of cropping off part of the reflection, I might take a tiny unit off the top to make it feel a little less centered. While the bottom reflection isn't ideal, it does offer more interest than the top BG.

[Robert Holguin]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I tried a different crop elimaniting the reflection and going horizontal. I like this crop better. What do you all think??

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Robert, horizontal is fine but IMO you need more room below for those long virtual legs.....that plus the bird is looking down. Its always a bit tricky with avocets and stilts.

[Arthur Morris]

I like the repost with a bit more off the back and a bit more below. The muddy line had to go! Sharp throughout with a good head angle, a good EXP, and good detail in the blacks. The BKGR is problematic for me.