Mandarin drake

[Mike Poole]

158029


Just thought I'd try a different angle - I know the bird is placed higher than the norm in this frame - does it work? Blue water wold have been nicer, but that's not an option on our canals!

canon 5d3
500mm f4 is
ISO 3200
1/400th f4

Dangling over the canal bank praying I didn't slip!

Mike

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Mike, I think it does work (albeit perhaps a fraction smaller in frame?), I also think an option of a Landscape format would have also worked too, just a twist of the kit and you were there. I feel there is more detail within the image you can tease out, for instance in the white area of the head. Adding a filter to darken the FG may also create some more depth too, as the light looks so even across the whole image. Try ISO 6400 next time.

TFS
Steve

[Mike Poole]

Thanks as ever Steve. ISO 6400!! :eek3: I'll give it a try!

Had a quick play with what you suggested, slight curves adjustment to the head whites and a grad on the foreground. WDYT?

158032

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Mike, I think you are going in the right direction, but you can go further. OK I may have push it a bit more than I would have liked, but I wanted to illustrate that lovely curved/sculpted white area and if I can get this from you 256 colour web file, then imagine what you can achieve from the RAW... Not something I do, but you may also choose to blur the FG too, and then have a more 'smoother' colour scheme, but these are only suggestions.

Meant to say, I think the darker FG works, but do you???

That 5D can be pushed Mike, I have no hesitation on the 1DX to go 6400, 12,800 and at some point I'll post at 25,600 and you have more MP too, try it what do you have to loose?

[Lorant Voros]

I think it works too...or it does for me for sure. For sure you can push the limits of the ISO with the 5DMKIII. I recommend you NIK's detail extractor for the white on the head. TFS.

[gail bisson]

Beautiful drake.
I like this unusual comp. Best part is the unusual color palette
I find my eye goes to the whitish rectangular OOF area behind the tail. I would clone it out if your ethics allow.
Gail

[annmpacheco]

lovely colors and i would like to see the drake lower in the frame so my eye could enjoy more beautiful BG. I know the ISO was cranked but sure would have liked the back wings not to have that blur. sweet image.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the angled pose, sharpness and complimentary water color is a bonus for me. Excellent image Mike!

[Arthur Morris]

Very sweet. I love those wings. Higher in the frame would be ever better from where I sit :) a

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot Mike, lovely colours, I see your light is no better than mine! I would like to have seen a landscape version, the portrait makes a change but I am not entirely sold on the large base.

[keith mitchell]

Particularly like the high in the frame way you have presented this Mike, Duck is a real cracker, great job.


Keith.