A reflection !!!!!!!

Snipe
To make my point about reflections. See how by keeping it all in the definition on the bird has suffered.
Just my personal opinion.
D200
Sigma 50-500
Hide, 400 ISO
180th sec @f8
Small crop
Processed paint Shop Pro 7
JR

A majestic looking snipe, but a wee bit lost against the background. A lower viewpoint would have softened it .
I'd be tempted to go in tighter.

See how by keeping it all in the definition on the bird has suffered.

I don't think that is an issue at all John. The same applies to all small in frame ("habitat") shots, but they can work very well if the composition is good. Each shot is individual.

Ian
The ones without the reflection are better (in my view)also because the lesser depth of field has blurred the background more. which I forgot to mention.
Cheers
John

I always like the symetry of a good reflection shot like this and the soft pastel white around the reflected head is a nice touch

Bob

I think I prefer this one without the reflection. If I look at the large version with the reflection hidden, I see a great portrait of a snipe. When I look at it with the reflection my eyes don't keep still for a moment, they bounce from one head to the other (a painful experience early in the morning). I do, however, like the detail in the background. It shows the habitat, but the bird still stands out well from it.

David

I think this works very well John and it's nice to see both styles of image from time to time i.e. smaller in the frame images such as this and closer 'telephoto' images with the background more diffused. I do like the reflection here

Matt

The reflection is not a complete reflection in that there is a plant stem in the middle of it which has spoilt it and adds to feeling of it being a busy reflection. It might be poss to clone out the stem though? I am 50/50 whether I prefer the picture as is or as David has said to crop some of it out. All the talk of reflections aside it is a very nice image of a snipe.

Nick.

I actually like it... I do feel that you might have over sharpened the bird a little mind...

Thanks all
Strange nobody mentioned the mirrored leaves near my name ,bottom left.
Querk of czm - forgot to crop it.
JR

Horses for courses John and there is always room for both. Reflection aside, it is a fantastic image of a Snipe and I'd love to see the closer version as well.

Very nice John.

Oscar