[Leica] IMG: Great Blue Heron

[Adam Bridge]

Hi Doug,

I have the two images side by side. I like the original better. Here's why: that little bit of leaf leads the eye into the bird. Without it the sloping branch steers my eye down past the bird's feet and out of the photo. But that little yellow leaf helps me see the bird: my eye lingers. I think you saw that when you made the image. That gray bit just below the leaf: it could be lost because it IS distracting, but the leaf itself? I think it's useful. 

Trying to remove or dim the reflections in the water is contrary to what the background is telling you should happen. There's light coming through those trees therefor there should be a reflection in the water. The original feels right to me, the retouched image feels wrong.

I'm definitely in the original version camp for these reasons and rather strongly.

Thanks for listening and a greater thanks for sharing your talent with us.

Adam

> On 2014 Dec 27, at 7:21 AM, Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> Thanks to the many comments on- and off-list.  I've taken the cattail reeds out and I toned down the bright spot in the water.  I tried a version where I took the bright spot out along with the cattails and the water looked like it had been sanitized, so I left a hint of the spot in.
> 
> The original:
> 
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/ardeidae/ardea/gbhero05a.jpg
> 
> the final:
> 
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/ardeidae/ardea/gbhero05c.jpg
> 
> All comments welcome.