Yesterday I was at the Manasquan Reservoir and the water was low (yes!). The dead trees in the water seemed like a great source for some abstract work but I was having difficulty getting something that worked. I was spending a lot of time looking at birds too so I was a little distracted. :)
Anyway, when I got home and was looking at these, I thought that this image, if taking to the black and white extreme, might work as an abstract. I don't know though. The heron might inhibit the abstract nature of the image and I don't know if the blacks are too much.
I'd love your thoughts!
Hi Ruth, I think you are on the right track. I think the softness of the trees is a bit of a distraction and the scene a bit cluttered.
The bird also gets a bit lost amongst all the light/contrasty elements. To this end I think a much tighter crop helps, but of course you may feel different.
I agree with you about the heron - I think being able to identify it detracts from the goal of it being abstract, but not totally. I think that it could go either way - leaving more elements in for a nature shot or removing the bird for a more abstract image.