Taking off (Red-breasted Merganser).

[Karl Egressy]

I chose this cut to leave out a floating slab of ice from the top.
Thanks for looking.

Canon 5D M III
Canon 500 f4.0 L IS II. + 1.4x III.
ISO 800
1/3200
f7.1
HH.

[joshua lincoln]

I think it is a great shot. The only thing I could even remotely find to critique is if the eye were sharper, but that is nit-picking.

[gail bisson]

Nice to see you posting again Karl.
I like the IQ and the wing blur. Head is nice and sharp.
I also like the water ripples in the RLC.
Comp wise I would be tempted to make this more of a pano and take a bit more off the top and add abit to the LHS if you have it.
I find the wing pose a bit awkward for my taste but that is a personal preference issue.
Gail

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Karl, good timing. I find the image a little soft. Was it a big crop? I'm surprised that you would see wing blur at 1/3200. Loi

[Karl Egressy]

Nice to see you posting again Karl.
I like the IQ and the wing blur. Head is nice and sharp.
I also like the water ripples in the RLC.
Comp wise I would be tempted to make this more of a pano and take a bit more off the top and add abit to the LHS if you have it.
I find the wing pose a bit awkward for my taste but that is a personal preference issue.
Gail

Thanks, Gail.
I haven't been out as much as I used to due to sicknesses in the family. (wife and son)

[Karl Egressy]

Hi Karl, good timing. I find the image a little soft. Was it a big crop? I'm surprised that you would see wing blur at 1/3200. Loi
Thanks, Loi.
It was not a big crop at all, the bird was very close.
This duck is the fastest flying duck at 100 miles per hour and I think that's what you see.
Plus the closer you are, the more visible of the wing blur becomes.

[David Salem]

Nice capture Karl. I think it looks plenty sharp and I like the comp you chose. Not my favorite wing position but nice none the less. Hope your family gets better and you get out soon.

[Holger Leyrer]

The landing pose is super. But i agree with David. This is not my favorite wing position.
However, you have captured this fast duck very good. Perfect exposure control and wonderful colors and BG.

[Bret Goddard]

A beauty!