Sunset Over Cronton
by WendyWoo

Comment:
You didn't post the settings used for this shot. I see that it is shot at longer focal length than the "Cronton View" image. If the wind is not blowing, I use a small aperture, about f11, and low ISO if I have a tripod. This helps with keeping all the elements from foreground to background sharper, and the low ISO helps with the noise in the shadow areas.
I also usually wait for the sun to get below the horizon, or put it behind something to keep it from being too bright in the image. Some sunsets look best in photos as long as 20 minutes or so after the sun disappears. In processing I use shadows / highlights and color temp/ tint adjustments to try to make the colors suit me.
I like your "Cronton View" image because it's a wider shot, and it keeps a little of the blue in the sky to color contrast with the orange.
Have a look at the available settings with your camera, and see if there are some that will enhance this kind of shot, in particular, if there is a cloudy day setting, it may make colors stronger.

hutch.jpg
by hyperfocal

Comment:
Cool facial expression : )

Oh to soar!
by smurfguy

Comment:
I thought this was a darn good shot. I knew that it would get hammered in voting and DNMC's but it is because it isn't a literal photo of a bird. Thumbs up for you for running with your take on the challenge theme. : )

Still beat my eggs with the old wire whisk
by IreneM

Comment:
Great idea, and the image is even better in lighting and composition. Congrats to you for this one.

Northern Cardinal
by timfythetoo

Comment:
Congrats Tim on an excellent score and fine shot.

White Balance
by yakatme

Comment:
I didn't vote, but did look thru the images for this challenge. I suspected that this was one of your Anhinga Trail shots, because I could see that you were close when you got the shot from the perspective, and I know that the egrets are in mating plumage at this time.
It's appropriate that it's mid winter, and the bird that you chose is a snowy egret. It's about as close to snow as we get down here LOL.
This is the "plume bird" that was hunted to near extinction for feathers for ladies hats last century, but they are getting more common now. I have seen flocks of over 50 of them in the 'Glades.
Big congrats on the blue. Go Nikon!

Carlsbad
by ShannonLee

Comment:
That one yellow flower sets this shot off. Without it the shot would still be good, but that adds a lot to the effect.

Hush Sound Land
by ShannonLee

Comment:
That's a very good title for this shot. The wet lens makes for a nice foggy-soggy day look with this shot. The low sat colors are nice with this scene too.

she lives on tisbury lane.
by ShannonLee

Comment:
It's easy to see why you love this place. The whole scene looks like an illustration in a storybook. Love the sky and the curve in the left side.

All Working Together For One Common Purpose
by ShannonLee

Comment:
This is a creative shot, and the way the light turned out is just sweet.