Coot Reflection

Gerald:

Yuo don't mention anything about how you expose or process your images. I've noted on previous posts that most of your avian photos look rather washed out, with low contrast and a look of extreme shadow recovery in processing. This Coot image shows that look as well.

The colors of the coot are too pale and have a bluish cast. There's also anobvious halo above the back of the coot that is often a indication that a lot of shadow recovery has been used in post processing. The blue of the water also looks strnafge and unnatural to my eye.

I like the basic image of the coot and reflection.

Gerald:  I like the basic composition and the reflection, but I agree with Richard on the image quality, and the coot also looks rather soft.  It would be helpful in reviewing your images if you included the exposure mode you used in-camera and something about the processing you did.  The more information you provide, the more intelligent critiques people can provide.

I also like the basic image, and it looks as if you have now added techs, so hopefully Richard and Dennis will see this again.

I'd use a much lower f-stop and a much higher shutter speed.  That should give you a much sharper image.

I think we need the post-processing information, too, to address the colors.

I like your composition with the shoreline leading the eye to the coot and the pose/reflection.  While it is easy to handhold the 100-400, I still use a tripod whenever I can.