Got that sucker/minnow part 2

Color and high key B&W...which is preferable, oh...and opine on crop please.

1. looks good
2. looks like a sketch

First one is best by far. I would crop it to better emphasize the subject and place it off-center.

The color version by far. Very nice lighting.

Definitely the first one, the mono version just seems messy and over done!

Cool. the first, not the second. Would love to crop in closer.

I agree...First one with a tighter crop.

This is a case where a centered subject works. I'd crop the first one square and centered.
Nice capture. That bird seems to be becoming your muse.

In playing with the crop on this for a few minutes, I would say it is critical to how the shot looks. Small differences are important.

I actually thought something like this worked the best, with a bit more room on the bottom (some room for the bird to 'move' into). But in general it seems that people don't like my crops! Square and close to centered also works well though, and I think may be preferable, particularly because of the V shape of the wings and reflection.

Think I like the one on the left better.

Your first post is really quite nice - some cropping to emphasize the subject but not center it. I cropped using original format with the bird in the right hand rule of thirds lines in LR and like it even more.

The second one looks like an interesting edit but I don't think I'd keep it....

Yeah...I do kinda like those egrets and GBH's. Was undecided whether to go with a square crop or a 16x9.
The B&W was a lame attempt at a pencil sketch type thing...has already hit file 13.

Thanks for input my friends.