'Crossed' -Great Crested Grebes

A pair of Great Crested grebes going through their courtship routine in the morning light,I composed the birds high and to the right to give this effect.These birds are late as is alot of wildlife this year in breeding and I have loved watching these beautiful birds.I love how this image has captured them 'crossing' with their beaks,a pritvate moment.
All Comments And Advice Welcome

Nikon D3S
Nikon F4VR600
F8,1/1000
iso 1000,-0.7ev
Matrix
PP-LR2.6,CS3,Very Slight Crop RHS

Thanks For Looking

I feel like I am intruding on their private moment viewing this Craig as I'm having to move my face right close to the monitor to try and see what is going on. There is a lot of detail in there but for my old eyes it needs to be just a little lighter.


Calum

Hi Craig,I'm looking at this one on a works monitor which is poor to say the least so that may have a bearing but I agree with Calum in that it's looking quite dark and I'm having trouble differentiating the grebes from the background. Love the blue reflections on the water and the composition/pose etc.

Great moody shot but like others I'm afraid I can't see enough detail in the birds on my Mac screen.

Thanks gents for your comments,with the way the light has impacted on these birds /image the 'Eye' is forced to look further into the image to see this private moment,once there you get a feeling as you've said of 'intruding' .I have slightly increased the brightness for you.

sorry Craig, its still very dark too me, although i appriate what you are trying to achieve with this shot. great composition and timing. nice reflections too.


Mark.G

At web size I think this is tricky to appreciate. If I get my head in close it looks great but 720 pixels across is tiny really and there's clearly a lot of detail in there. I know this would be excellent as an A3 or larger print. Are you able to link to an external 1000 px version?

Looks good to me Craig, very atmospheric and just a hint of what is going on.

Phil Newman

I took the gamma up to 2 on this and it looks great.!! whilst still retaining the idea behind it and the atmosphere.
JR

Show us John and Simon thanks for your comments,I am unable to post a large size from my website etc.Like you have said though up close as a tiff the detail is beautiful,thanks again all

Hi Craig - I can see what you've sought to do here, and having spent the last 4 eveings at the local lake trying to get exactly the same shot, you've done well.

The image has lost something in conversion as it looks pretty dark on my screen which is a shame as I am sure this look great as a big print

Can see what you've tried to do Craig, but the brightest part of the picture is the reflection and the neck of the Grebe, these areas draw my eye, perhaps just toning those areas and lifting the heads a tad may help??

Nice. Would love to see it printed big.

Craig.
Sent you anE mail of it.
JohnR

If this is representative of the morning light, then you have done well Craig. A very atmospheric portrait of a tender moment.

Thank you for all the comments