Would this be more to your liking, Bill?shame a little about the rocks on the bottom left
Absolute belter.
Lovely specimen shot of the bird, Phil
very good control of the whites and well done with the processing
looking for critique here ...... shame a little about the rocks on the bottom left ........ to my mind, (which I'm sure won't be to everyones), they slightly "unbalance" the overall image, and the OOF, which is normal, does catch the eye, (maybe try reducing the bg OOF rock a little and see what you think) ...... ........ the direct perch is good
but again you can't have everything
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I just checked, no chance to see these cool fellow down here
Would this be more to your liking, Bill?
…if you don't mind Phi
Lovely image Phil, especially being at eye level, so many of these are below you around Bempton so this was a good find.
Lovely eye level pose Phil and excellent control on the whites, especially against that deep blue BG, really pops. I also like the detail in the red ring around the eye - razor sharp. If you have it I'd prefer just a little more space above and possibly below the bird to loosen the crop off a touch but all else is good. Losing the rock does neaten the shot up as well - personal choice.
Mike
Think I'd go for something like this Phil .......... trying to get more "balance" in the shot and although OOF areas in the bg and fg can be good and useful ... I think that they distract in this shot .. trying to lead the eye away from the rocks .. if they distract .. also going for a different crop reduces the relative proportions of the rock versus the rest .. if yu see what I mean
but it's only my view and as you have worked on the bg you may as well have a go on the "rocks"
It's a really good shot with an attractive feel to the bird
(bg maybe a bit patchy and the rock edge may need a little more work ......in my edit)
I think it's a corker too Phil ,I have been musing the thoughts too. for me ya nailed it but let yourself down with the framing,which is brutally harsh but once one is close framing is brutal,that's the bit I'd be slapping myself over I want just a smidge more below. Second and thinking this through could you have upped iso to grab more dof on those rocks. I do like them in that corner mate the way they work but I am a bit unsure about the removals.
finally is it possible to lighten the feet slightly?
Phil this is a bird of my childhood it's a particularly resonant image for me .The pov and dark of the sea are fabulous as is the red around the eye I've opened with crit but it is a belter,you have done really well
TFS
stu