Feedback on this image.

Originally Posted by Samo

That works. Effort not wasted.

I do like the moss from trees and lily pads(?) though.

Yeah, that area is pretty. I believe those are lily pads. My understanding is they are really pretty when they bloom. I was hoping to gets some snake and alligator images, but it was too cold for the snakes, and the gator wasn't in the pond.

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@480sparky Better?

I did a little editing on your original image, but the file is pretty small to begin with ,for cropping and editing. I did crop it to my taste, and pulled the highlights down. I also desaturated some of the yellow/orange in the shot.
You have the pelican and everything else pretty much the same color ,which doesn't make anything jump out at you. I'll post my edit if you're interested but a RAW file would do it more justice, or at least a full size jpeg file.

@Blacktop I agree. Too much of the same colors. I didn't think to take down the highlights. I just did it, and I also went back and desaturated the yellows some. Looks much better.

I have a raw image if you want to play with it. How would I get that to you? You can post the edit as well. I don't mind.
I desaturated the background on that first cropped one, and I saturated the blue in the water a little.

Photoshop is also not a forte' at all. I am still learning.

Originally Posted by Dawg Pics

@Blacktop I agree. Too much of the same colors. I didn't think to take down the highlights. I just did it. Looks much better.

I have a raw image if you want to play with it. How would I get that to you? You can post the edit as well. I don't mind.
I desaturated the background on that first cropped one, and I saturated the blue in the water a little.
Photoshop is also not a forte' at all. I am still learning.

You could upload the RAW file or the full sized unedited jpeg to a site like Dropbox and either post a link here or PM me a link to it. Then I can download it and play with it.

Originally Posted by Blacktop

You could upload the RAW file or the full sized unedited jpeg to a site like Dropbox and either post a link here or PM me a link to it. Then I can download it and play with it.

Ok, I will see what I can do tomorrow and send you a link. I don't have Dropbox, but I will come up with something.

@Dawg Pics.

Here is my edit from the full size jpeg that you sent me. I did a few different crops but I settled on this one. This is how I would have cropped it if I took the shot myself.
In LR, I also pulled down highlights, de-saturated a little of the orange and more of the yellows to make the Pelican stand out from the background colors.
I added a little more contrast, boosted the whites just a touch and sharpened the Pelican by itself.

The most important thing I guess was the crop, because that is what you asked about in the first place.

If I could just make a suggestion. On shots like these don't be afraid to get down a little lower and shoot the subject at eye level or even from a lower perspective.
You will find ,that your shots will get a little more interesting if you keep experimenting with different angles and different perspectives.

@Blacktop
Thanks a bunch. That edit looks a lot better.
I agree. I think that I get so caught up trying to get one thing right that I forget the interesting composition. In fact, I know, that is the case.

Thanks everybody, I am glad I bucked-up and asked for some help.