Critic 2023 #7

 I wanted to submit something for advice that is an interesting challenge (at least for me). I have an underwater photo of an octopus with a couple of legs plunged deep into a bright orange shell. I took the photo in St. John USVI on a vacation visit last year. Here is the challenge, the octopus is an expert at camouflage which is critical to it’s protection and survival. But he also tends to disappear into the background and people viewing the photo often just don’t see him, especially given the distraction of the bright orange shell he is holding. How can the photo be edited to make it a bit easier to see the full picture? 

​John G has offered this edit:

I decided to try a couple major changes, since the octopus is really well hidden. 
 

1. I first thought maybe rotating the image might help, as we tend to read left to right anyway, so it seemed like you might see the octopus easier on the side. (And being in the water, didn't seem liked it's mattered much.)
2. Also, thought I could make it pop by dropping the exposure on the rock(corral), but I liked the look when I desaturated the rock better.
3. Also, dodge and burned the eyeball so it popped out more.

Edit offered by M. Flick
I agree that the horizontal view is a better choice. In Lr I selected the background and darkened it, also removing some texture and clarity. I selected the octopus and lightened it, adding also a wee bit of texture and clarity.