Simple but Sweet - Mallard Drake with Fall colors

[Randy Stout]

This drake was taken several weeks ago while there was still some leaves to give color to the water.

D4 600VR TC14 f/5.6 1/500 ISO 1000 , manual exposure, SB900 with Beamer, gitzo/Wimberley

Post: Small crop from below, cleaned up a few spots in the water, simplified catchlight

Advice and comments always appreciated.

This is as low as I can go at that location.

Cheers


Randy


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[Stu Bowie]

Hi Randy, lovely greens to the head, and I feel you have exposed the yellow of the bill spot on too. The angle works as is, and I really like the texture and colour of the water.

Im sure you have a full body image swimming on that textured water. :w3

[Bill Dix]

As common as they are, I still love these beautiful ducks. The colors, texture on the flank, and swirly water make this one for me.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Randy, very clean image with great detail on the bird. The bg is so nice - great texture (I almost want to touch my monitor to feel it!) and color.

[Gary Esman]

Love that eye Randy!

Gary.

[John Cooper]

As with many of these duck/waterbird images, the warm fall colours add so much impact to the composition - very pleasing to the eye.

[PhilCook]

Eye popping color here randy, both duck and water, slightly lower would be a slight improvement, but still candy for my eye

[dankearl]

Beautiful warm colors, Randy.
The water texture is superb.

[Shawn Zierman]

Your flash work is subtle, but I bet the image would not sing like it does without it.
I enjoy this crop, it seems unconventional, yet makes perfect visual sense to me.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
As stated already wonderful water texture, love the water color, very nice pose, excellent details, and great comp.
Excellent flash work too.
Well done.

[David Salem]

Very nice colors here. The flash helped with the green on the mallards head and the overall exposure. Full of nice detail too. Great job on a common species.

[Randy Stout]

THANKS everyone for the comments.

Shawn - your comment about 'subtle flash work' is taken as a compliment, because I don't want it to ever be obvious, just enough to brighten colors, fill in a few shadows, etc. In this case it also gave me more even illumination of the green head.

As always, I appreciate everyones input!

Cheers

Randy

[Shawn Zierman]

I'm glad you took it as a compliment, as that was how it was meant.:c3:

[Satish Ranadive]

Randy Sir:
Wonderful image with beautiful panorama crop.Water colors and texture gives nice 3D effect to the frame.
Love the beautiful colors and details,yes nice reflection too.

Regards,
Satish.