American Avocet

[padrepaul]

An American Avocet at sunset.

I've been playing with Adobe RAW, and have toned down the saturation a touch. Had been using "Landscape" and a warmer light balance close to cloudy, but this is simply "Color" and "Daylight" slightly warmed but not to the level of Cloudy. A little touch up in post using Nik Contrast Adjust and Detail Extractor at 25%.

Thanks for any feedback,
Paul

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[Ralph]

An American Avocet at sunset.

I've been playing with Adobe RAW, and have toned down the saturation a touch. Had been using "Landscape" and a warmer light balance close to cloudy, but this is simply "Color" and "Daylight" slightly warmed but not to the level of Cloudy. A little touch up in post using Nik Contrast Adjust and Detail Extractor at 25%.

Thanks for any feedback,
Paul

View attachment 62034

Beautiful Bird Paul.

 

[BorderBirder]

Utterly splendid! Did you edit more to memory of actual scene, or ‘to taste” as a matter of interest? I think I oscillate between the two.

 

[BAL Land]

I like EVERYTHING except the crop-I would play around with wider crops here and have more room abkve the bird, as well as less below it. The reflection is barely noticeable I don’t think it’s worth including.

 

[dupcak]

I like EVERYTHING except the crop-I would play around with wider crops here and have more room abkve the bird, as well as less below it. The reflection is barely noticeable I don’t think it’s worth including.

I concur with @BAL Land - loosening up the crop above the head and pulling in a bit tighter on the bottom might improve things. I think the colors are great - but I have to say I'm not an expert on avocet's - I saw one from a couple hundred feet away last year in broad daylight so that doesn't really count.

Overall - wonderful photo - great angle - very pleasing.

 

[Daniel Zdonczyk]

Very pleasant image. Lovely.

 

[NorthernFocus]

That's a lovely shot. Well done. The only critique I have to offer is about the crop. IMO way too much space below the bird and not enough above. The reflection isn't worth making the composition off balance.

 

[raptor photo]

Beautiful image! The only issue is the crop, way too much space below and not nearly enough above. I would also boost the midtowns but that is a personal preference.

 

[padrepaul]

Utterly splendid! Did you edit more to memory of actual scene, or ‘to taste” as a matter of interest? I think I oscillate between the two.

Tried to go to actual scene.

 

[padrepaul]

That's a lovely shot. Well done. The only critique I have to offer is about the crop. IMO way too much space below the bird and not enough above. The reflection isn't worth making the composition off balance.

Thanks, I was trying to work in the reflections of the avocet in the water, which I'd lose by cropping more off the bottom.

 

[frdjohns]

I really like how the light is hitting the bird, just lovely. The crop has been beat up enough. Otherwise, nice image.

 

[K9Kirk]

I see what people are saying about the crop and I would've tried to get all the reflection in the shot as well but a little more room above the head would've looked a little nicer. Is there more room in the original to do that? That's my only pick with it and that's minor, especially if it's fixable. I think you did a good job overall with the photography and the editing. It's a very pleasing image. I give it 4 smiles.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Beautiful shot, I agree that there's not enough space above the bird and too much below.