Female Mallard

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Nothing so far in reflections, but maybe I will get something today.
Took this last w/e. Had a fairly dismal day with the 500 in AI Siervo. Keeper rate was really low.
Cropped from top and left.
40D/500mm and 1.4 TC/ISO 400
1/100 (I know it's low but still looked sharp to me)/f 5.6
+2/3 or +1/FF with BB @ -1 1/3
Tripod/AV Mode/ Eval
NR, capture and creative sharpening with Photokit. Cloning out of bright spots on beak and flash highlight on eye.
Critiques Appreciated.
Thanks.

[denise ippolito]

Jackie, Really nice portrait and I like the soft muted BG colors-they go nicely w/ the duck. Perfect amount of sharpness for me too.

[CliveTonge]

Hi Jackie,
Great capture.It certainly looks sharp to my eye. I can't see anything to try.
Have a nice weekend.
Clive

[Declan Troy]

Hey Jackie,

Lovely portrait. Only flaw may be in the title. Looks like a female (or juv) American Black Duck. Female Mallards should have orange and black bills.

Here's a mediocre image but it shows the difference. The one in focus is a female mallard, behind her is female black duck and behind her is male black duck (yellowish bill, perhaps a bit too bright but that's a lengthy tangent). Male mallard missing from the image but I imagine you have them figured out.

You lucked out, Black Ducks are much less common than mallards around Toronto.

Declan
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4040272886_66ae5e4278_o.jpg

[Jackie Schuknecht]

You can see I am not up on my birds. Your picture illustrates the point very well. In the memory bank. Thanks Declan. Denise and Clive thanks for your comments.

[kostas nianiopoulos]

Hi Jackie this is agreat image . well done.

[Mirenchu Fernandez]

Love the image! Very well done.

[Gus Cobos]

Love the close up in your face look Lady Jackie...the details and color rendition is superb, the water droplets are a plus...well done...:cool:

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Correct, this is not a Mallard but is a nice picture of a beautiful baby. Jackie, what is FF, I am sure I will hate myself for asking.

Great eye and the crop/composition is killer. I think this is a great picture, the dark colors and MT BG are a great blend, this is a big time keeper - congrads.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

FF is fill flash, should have expanded on that term, sorry Jeff. (with Better Beamer, BB)

[Lance Peters]

Hi Jackie - WEll done - like this a lot - I am a fan of the tight portrait with selective focus - the eye/head area is tack sharp = let the rest fall were it may.Flash looks good - just right.
Big Congrats :)

[William Malacarne]

Jackie

I like all of it a lot. Have a question of why you "Cloned flash highlight on eye." In most cases isn't it preferred to have a catch light or was it undesirable because of the reflection?

Thanks
Bill

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Bill I am no authority, but it just seemed to me that there was so much going on in the eye area that it looked pretty weird to me. That said I am not sure whether to get rid of all the reflection stuff and put back in the tiny highlight from the flash. Not sure.

[Alfred Forns]

Good catch on the ID Declan !!!!

Eye wise it looks good, the main reason for a catchlight is having the eye look more lively. Looks lively as presented so cloning it might have been the right the right thing to do.

Low keeper rate? ... shooting at the same shutter speed? Excellent sharpness for 1/100 !!!

[Harold Davis]

very intimate and i like it!! this is well done, jackie. the Ps work is spot on in my book!!

[Bill Dix]

Jackie: Was away for the weekend and just saw this. Very handsome portrait of a Black Duck. Beautiful details and color. Nicely done!