It's nearly perfect Sherri. You need to straighten it a little so water behind the lovely egret is level. Then maybe put it through levels in Photoshop to brighten it up a bit and you have a gorgeous winner.   Posted: 08/02/2026 16:11:32

There is beautiful motion in the bird as you caught his action and determination. What I sense is missing is the lack of defination in his foliage, which is possibly due to the low light, and maybe 1.4 adaptor. Sometimes Gigapixel causes this too, gives too soft an appearance to foliage. I don't know how to change it. I got a tricolor heron there also, but it was later morning, about 9:30 and the sun was hitting him better. I had a 500PF on the Z8.
We should meet up there sometime.   Posted: 08/03/2026 17:55:05

Such a wonderful bird to photograph and watch! Great description.
I agree with comments made. Some straightening and brightening of the water. I think the water being all the same color competes with the subject. Maybe using the Linear gradient in LrC to add some variation interest to the tone closer to the foreground. You also might play with bringing up the yellows or blue tones with the mixer. I agree, this can be a challenge and a frequent one when photographing wading birds.   Posted: 08/04/2026 19:54:45

Great pose, Sherry!

I'm not familiar with the adjustments available on Gigapixel, but if it were Lightroom, I'd be curios to see how increasing the saturation would look.   Posted: 08/07/2026 11:32:49

Ok I've taken all the suggestions ......some things were definitely improved, I did redo the bird itself and I think it is better I put a subject mask and worked on the the texture, clarity, and sharpness. the background was my personal hangup. I did "straighten it" - using the white trail of his feet (instead of the background trees which I removed before after straightening - my mistake ) I think that was why everyone's perception was that it was not straight. And I tried many variations ....I varied the color of the water so that it was not all one shade (which in reality was what I perceived that morning - most likely because low light). I added some blue saturation and then the gradient for the highlights.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I have about 30 other images of this Egret and would like to use some of those thoughts while processing! I don't get to see them on the east coast so when I do see one I go a little crazy trying to get their dancing!   Posted: 08/07/2026 21:04:15

Sherry, I actually like the color of water in the original image. I agree with others about the straightening the image, although at first glance it did not bother me. Great image!   Posted: 08/10/2026 18:44:49

Sherry:

IMO, this is one of your best.

Agree that the water seems like a blue circle in the updated version.

Clarity color and texture on the bird is amazing!
  Posted: 08/15/2026 13:10:12