Just a Feather - Color, or de- Saturated?

[Nicks Pics]

I was looking for birds on the beach, but I just found a feather. Probably my photography was the better for it, knowing how my bird photography goes. Sometimes what you wanted is not as good as what you're given.

Please let me know if you like the color, or the version with the water de-saturated. Please view at 100% Thanks!

[tbob]

Consider chucking out the water entirely and doing a panoramic crop just at the level of the second bright reflection above and to the left of the feather. The bright area on the water is too distracting. I feel the image needs to be just the feather and sand, simple and elegant.

[HaseebM]

I like the colour version and its a good image btw!

[Manfred M]

Nick - I agree with Trevor; the background doesn't add anything to the image and ends up distracting the viewer. Crop to eliminate it.

[JR1]

I love minimalisim

[Shadowman]

Nice perspective.

[Geoff F]

Consider chucking out the water entirely and doing a panoramic crop just at the level of the second bright reflection above and to the left of the feather. The bright area on the water is too distracting. I feel the image needs to be just the feather and sand, simple and elegant.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[ST1]

To have retained the background to add to the image strength. IMO it would have needed some thing more that we can see here Nick.
The crop suggestions seem a way forward though, as that would remove those circular highlights. Well done for trying something different.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks for your replies.

Guys, my question about this image was about whether you liked it in color or monochrome. But thanks for your suggestions in regard to crop also. I could have stayed with my first shot of the feather, here,

but this one is obviously not very artistic. I wanted to include the waves.

[Downrigger]

Lots of good comments but I like your framing, and I like the color. I sort of wish we had all of the shadow, though.

[JR1]

Thanks for your replies.

Guys, my question about this image was about whether you liked it in color or monochrome! As for crop, I could have stayed with my first shot of the feather, here,

but I wanted to include the waves. I am guess I'm happy with the crop, including the significant amount of negative space, and the OOF waves and sparkles of the sand. But I'll accept that I loose in the majority vote on that one

don't like this one

[Geoff F]

For me, Nick, it was that area of out of focus and over exposed surf on the left which was over riding the delicate feather.

Maybe a 4 x 5 ratio crop to retain some of the water might be worth trying.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks folks, I actually have a few other shots of this scene. Perhaps a slightly different angle could answer for some of the things that have been pointed out, without taking the water out of the scene entirely. But probably none of these others are actually better.



with bug

[FootLoose]

I think the colours are fairly subdued so I don't think much is gained by desaturating the water area. The overexposed area is just as bright and distracting in both versions, but I think cropping it out harms the composition. If you take the sea out, all you have is blurred area of sand in the background.

[IzzieK]

I love the one with the surf. Excluding it with the feather do not make the shot an environmental one. Can you just tone down the highlights selectively instead...I really like the object you are trying to show here.

[Barbara Ponder]

I love the simplicity of the image. I like the water in the background and personally like the brighter colored water. The brightness although maybe a tad bright, actually makes a line to the feather and illuminates it beautifully. It keeps my eye bouncing back and forth beckoning me to sit beside the feather to study it while soaking up the sunshine.

[Nicks Pics]

Thanks Greg, Izzie, Barbara,

Izzie, thanks for the idea, I'll probably experiment with the highlights on the surf when/if I work this one over again.

Barbara, I'm glad you enjoyed the image. It is nice to know that my images are doing what they are supposed to do.