Female Mallard Grooming

[Rodney Flowers]

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/%7Eflowersr/Critiques/May2010/20091021Mallard-_MG_0782-Edit.jpg
I took this picture of the Mallard grooming. Normally I don't like how the grooming pictures turn out, but I held on to this one and thought I would post it to see what others think. I performed a slight crop and some dodging to help lighten up the left side of the head and bill since the lighting was not directly behind me.
Canon EOS 50D
Canon EF 600mm f/4IS L USM
ISO 400
1/800sec @ f/5.6

[Juan Aragonés]

The light is a bit strong hear and the image looks a bit bright in my monitor. A lower shooting angle would produce a much isolated subjectan, perhaps a less distracting BG, but I know that we can not always get a lower angle. Nice to see the eye of the bird :)

[Daniel Cadieux]

Succesful preening images can be hard to achieve. I think you did relatively well, but I also agree with Juan's critique. Judging from the concentric circles around the duck the image also need a slight CCW rotation. I do love the feathers at the tail end of the duck, as well as the large one below the bill.

[Peter Farrell]

Very nice preening shot. Nice detail and good that most of her head is visible.
I agree it is a bit bright.
Peter