High key images

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I like the figure/ground effect in both but especially the second one. The high contrast and silhouette treatment works. I'd even push more detail out to the point of posterization. Number 2 a vignette/gradient in a complementary color in from the edges of the frame might look good.

I like the visual balance from the little trail to the left in number 1 and the extended breathing room on the right.

In my mind this is not high key but high contrast. High key would be most tones above middle, very little below middle.
 
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Two interesting images.

My first impression is that the colors are a little cooked. I'd probably knock down the saturation and contrast in the birds. I realize that there is some artistic license involved in shots like these, but for me I'd probably keep the colors more in check.

The composition of both feels a little high, like you're shooting down a bit too much. Getting lower or getting back farther with a longer lens would help. I do like the rest of the first shot though - great wing position, good splashes in the water, great reflection.

The second shot is almost there. The biggest issue - and I realize sometimes you get what you get - is that the birds are touching and touching in the reflection. It looks like if you had moved over to the left a bit you may have been able to keep space between them. Sometimes it's OK if parts of the animals block / touch, but in this case I think it's better if they don't.

Still a good effort overall.
 
Nice!

I am not a bird shooter, nor a critic so my impressions as an observer: in first, the vignette is distracting and the splash is too close to the frame's edge. On second, which I like very much, I'd love to see equal white on both sides, so maybe nudge it a little to the left.
 
Thanks for looking and for your constructive comments. This is a new process for me, so I really appreciate hearing your reactions. Andrew, I didn't use a filter. I just overexposed, and then played with the shots in post.
 
I've never done anything like this, but you sure have inspired me to try. At first the birds being a bit blurry bothered me....I zoomed in to make sure it wasn't my monitor (or eyes), but after a bit I felt like they looked like water color paintings that aren't tack sharp. The second image really grew on me. I could totally see that as a greeting card cover shot. Really cool.
 
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