Regardless how it may have appeared to some, this photo is perfectly legal in Photoshop terms.
I cropped it a lot (I usually like not to crop at all if possible) and that required some patient use of Unsharp Mask.
I also, but just slightly, raised the color saturation to achieve the final result.
I have out-takes but they do not show the reflections because this Blue Heron is taken by different, most normal perspectives. I will put them on-line asap including a version of the original (having being working on PhoTournament.com and re-assetting my websites, I removed my galleries and I do not have a portfolio on-line at the moment).
I did choose this perspective, at shooting time, attracted by the simmetry of the two blue spots on the bird wings which are not visibile by any other angle.
Finally, I would like to share a true secret about how to take reflections like that.
I do not know exactly why, maybe somebody can explain it, but when it is omogenously cloudy (and that happens quite frequently here in UK), subjects reflects in the water in a very colorful and crispy way.
In addition to that, I was pretty lucky that the water in this picture is dirty, therefore the bubbles which create another interesting pattern which contributes to the intended pictorial view.
This is definitely one of my best three photos ever and it prints very well. I hanged it in front of my desk wall and I love it.
I final word about Photoshop artworks and tricks: it is true that, theoretically, anything can be produced (or reproduced) digitally, but when you see a photo with such complex and different patterns, to produce it in Photoshop would have required one month work from an excellent artist!
Conclusion:
it is much much easier to take it as you wish with your camera! ;)
Graceful indeed, plus a very present touch of impressionism in the background. If Claude Monet had painted animals, he would have painted what you saw. Water ripples under the beak are perfect. Original by it's colors. Well done.
The bird is beutifull, but i find the background pretty disturbing - to much strong colors and contrast for my tast. So i give you 3 for the bird only...
Excellent picture...but I find the reflection of the trees a bit disturbing to the eye(too green...lol). And it kind of robs the grace. But than again, I'm just a beginner... 8
Wow this is fantastic - the only thing that's strange about this picture is the reflection - it doesn't seem natural, although I'm sure it is. Well done tho, nice capture.
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