Sandhills w/Alternate

Different and well done. I like the grouping of cranes, the fact that they're all sharp, the light and setting. The OOF foreground duck works fine for me - especially with its placement between the crane reflections. I found your "Bosque Alternative" over in Bird Photography to be an interesting read about your experience at Merced.

Sandy, This image tweaks my imagination. I play back what conversation the Cranes are having. I like how the BG and FG do not distract from the cranes and show very well the environment they are in. Winner.

Skip

Sandy, I think you caught a really interesting interaction here between the cranes. I like the setting as well.

This is lovely sandy, great composition and mood.

Nicely captured and composed Sandy. I like the apparent interaction of the group and the lighting is wonderful. I also read your post in Bird Photography and I'll put the Merced NWR on my 'hope to visit' list.

nice, Sandy. I like the positions of the cranes and the light and color here. the position of the duck works well for me also. I'd consider taking off about half the blue at the bottom for the comp.

A great feel to this image Sandy. Well done.

Sandy ,I love the feel of the Crain's habitat that you have captured with the grouping in this image ,the duck fits into the scene in the water with the reflections of the craines so well.A lovely image

Wonderful composition and I like the group pose, nice job in getting this difficult shot, I also would consider taking some off the bottom as well but a fine shot as is, very cool shot Sandy, way to go, I really like this one.

Truly great light here. Great position for each of the birds. Lovely color and detail. Very nice.

Neat! I think the square crop and composition work quite well here. I like the duck in the foreground.

Nice group pose and pretty light. I would crop a little more off of the bottom because IMHO the reflections in this case don't add that much. I think they are too hazy and broken up to much by the grasses in the water to add much to the picture and I think a tighter crop would put more emphasis on the interesting grouping of the cranes.

A very nice gathering of Sandhills, I like that the first crane looking back toward the others, great light and excellent detail. the pintail is a nice addition too.

Sweet Photo Sandy!

Ken Archer

Like the grouping, the light and the colors. Nice work Sandy.

Ray

Nice interaction in this Sandy, I like the grouping and how that one crane is just looking back at the others all looking ahead. The composition is great and I like that oof duck. Thank you for the information you gave about Merced, it's now on my list of places to go.

Nice comp on the grouping Sandy! Didn't know you got that many cranes over the winter...or is that large a number unusual? I did here many cranes did not winter in Texas because of the lack of water this year, but not sure how true that actually is. I am unsure I like the crop on this...I don't think it is terrible or anything, but I do think the reflections are not very strong and think it might look better if you cropped out most of the water.

I really like reflections, so don't think of cutting them out very often. Thanks to all for the thoughts!
Here is an alternate crop, and I'd be very interested to see what people feel. Had to clone some canvas in at the top, since I framed with the reflections.
I'm still undecided, I think..
Sandy