If I was a painter - this is what I would paint

[Randy Stout]

The reeds on the background almost make me think of brush strokes. This adult common loon was imaged last summer in Michigan.
Bit of a windy day, so some turbulence in the water, which is a nice change from the dead smooth conditions I usually look for.

Curious about folks take on the yellow flower in the background.  I toned it down some, but wonder if it still seems distracting, to bright?

Nikon D500 600VR  f/7.1   1/1000s  ISO 500.  Taken from my little boat

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Seapy]

Oh my goodness, never really commented on someone else's nice photo before but here goes... Just my thoughts, since you ask.

Like you say the background looks like brush strokes, really nice.  I think it needs cropping more at the left, there is very little interest at the left, although I think the subject needs plenty of space in this image.  The head (eye?) seems dead centre, too symmetrical .  The yellow flower is fine, I hadn't noticed it until I read your text.  There is nice reflection and ripples, like you say it's different from dead calm mirror smooth reflections, although they can be spectacular.

Just my two cents.

[Anthony]

I think the yellow flower is an essential part of the composition.

[armando_m]

I like the choppy water it makes it different , and would be a challenge to paint 

[pluton]

Very pleasing, satisfying shot that bears repeated viewings.  I think you made the correct call with the yellow flower.

[John Geerts]

Beautiful indeed !   Agree with Keith.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for their thoughtful input.  Much appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[JKoerner007]

The reeds on the background almost make me think of brush strokes.

Well said and delightful image: painterly, colorful, bright, and happy

Nicely done.

[Ron Scubadiver]

This is a lovely waterfowl capture.  I were a painter, I would probably be doing naked women, or abstracts.  Lucky for the NG crowd, I can't paint.

[Kuri]

Randy, but I thought you were a painter, and I thought this was what you painted.   
Very nice photo.

[jgould2]

Hi Randy.

The reeds look great, very painterly. The bird from down low is spectacular. The yellow dot is totally distracting, I would completely clone it out. I would also crop a little more off the left side. Thanks for sharing.

JIM

[Randy Stout]

Jim:

I have done several versions of this one.  Below is a intermediate one with the flower toned down greatly.  I love the yellow flowers at that site, but when you are limited to the camera's viewpoint, they can be pretty strong, where as in person, not so much.

Cheers

Randy

[golunvolo]

Im a big fan of the original as the blue smear, red dot eye, yellow do flower and overall green makes a perfect primal color counterpunch to de monochrome subject. There is a reading of the image as an abstract color details and palette very much to my liking that dimisnishes if you take out the yellow. I can understand that its presence can be distracting but is actually a part of the composition and appeal of the image for me.

    Great point of view too

[Chrisar]

Fantastic shot ! I really like colours, bokeh and the blue reflection of the wake. Thanks for sharing.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks the comments.  I appreciate the artistic assessment. After all , if it is to be a mock painting, it should be more than just a copy of reality, it should be an interpretation.

Cheers

Randy