Quote Originally Posted by jiro View Post
This shot makes more sense to me. For one thing, the uncropped version gave me an idea as to what was so unique about the birds' position and the background. On the first cropped version, I was really puzzled about the background. I thought it was a very dirty sea and the heron was floating on it. Only upon close inspection did I notice that the background is a solid piece of material... and rusty.

Being candid with you, I'd say it might not be a winning shot but it is a keeper for me. A keeper because it is unique. you don't always see a heron resting in his belly. In my opinion, you can still work on some adjustments on this one to make it more appealing. We learn more from this kind of shots because we analyze. The first step is to take pictures of what caught your attention. The second step would be "too consciously frame the shot to make it a good image". kind regards, Doug.
Thanks for the candid comments Jiro. I agree wholeheartedly. I think I was concentrating too much on trying to get a sharp picture of the heron without considering the context. I am working on the composition/framing part and hopefully making some progress. As a newbie to dslr I have a lot to learn and I must say that this site, with tutorials and forums, have been incredibly helpful. To be able to post a sample pic and receive helpful feedback helps the learning hugely.
Cheers,
Doug