Killdeer

An interesting take on this killdeer. I like the placement of the bird in the frame. I'm struggling with the small amount of the bird visible. I'd like to see a bit more and not have to work my way through the grasses to get to it. Also wish for more of a head turn. Interesting to see what other reactions you'll get on this comp and image design.

Interesting & unusual comp Jason
Nice details, light, and colors on the bird also.
Well done

Would like to see more of the bird and an oof foreground does not help this picture

The techs and detail look good to me. While I too would like to see more of the bird, this strikes me as very typical of the nesting Killdeer I have run into. If they think you may be getting too close you get the broken wing act to lead you away, but when I have found them with an active nest one adult will often stay hunkered down on the nest trying to be invisible while the other leads the threat away. Do you happen to know if this was an active nest?

Jason,
I rather like the crop you've chosen but I find the dark, oof blob in the lower left portion of the image distracting. I also find that the blade of grass pointing to the eye could maybe be cloned out as I find that a little bit distracting as well. Would love to see more of a head turn and a little bit more of the body of the bird. I do find this interesting though. It's almost as if she is in deep concentration, just thinking. The background is blurred enough to be pleasing. I'm wondering if you were using single focus point or multiple focus points? I ask because it appears as if the some of the detail on the head is not as sharp as the feathers near the back of the bird. If you were using a single focus point you could have placed that point directly on the birds head for a sharper appearance. All in all I really like this image though. It's very peaceful and serene to me. Nice out of the box image.

Thanks for the comments everyone! Rick, the bird wasn't on a nest, at least not one that I was aware of. It was walking down a hill when I stumbled upon it. But I like the fact that it gave you that impression

I like this kind of hide-and-seek shots (as some may know ). The composition works for me, but a slight head turn would have been the icing on the cake.. But still very nice as presented ! Greetings, Hans

Nice, Jason. I like your very low angle and the partially hidden subject. Not sure you need quite all that space on the left, but I don't really mind it being there.