An encore performance for Mr. Woody - Wood duck drake from Cleveland

[Randy Stout]

Taken in Cleveland about 3 weeks ago now. Although we were trying to capture the fall colors, there wasn't much left in some areas. I thought the green in the water in this image worked well with his greens.

D700 600 VR 1.4 TC f/7.1 1/1600s ISO 800 SB-900 with beamer Tripod with Wimberley II flat on the stone walkway.

Post: Rotation, crop for composition, selective sharpening, water cleanup

He is right on the edge of being too sharp for my tastes, appreciate your thoughts on that.

Cheers

Randy

[Charles Mills]

In all respects, this is one of the finest Wood Duck images that I've ever seen.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Randy! I like the pose, HA, sharpness and water cooler. This is one of my favourites of your series.

[Gary Esman]

Fine image Randy, love seeing the blue feathers on their backs, everything looks good as expected. I am wondering if it needs a tiny bit of CW?

Gary.

[Doug Brown]

You're knocking these Woodies out of the park (so to speak). This is DOF that I can appreciate!

[Joe Senzatimore]

Color and fine detail are super. Wonderful image of a beautiful species.:5

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Randy, Im on my laptop at work, but the sharpness looks spot on from here. Isnt it great that images come out of camera spot on, that we worry that they may be too sharp. :w3 Once again, you have brought out the colours very well, super pose and HA, and the rotation looks fine to me. Cheers.

[Ofer Levy]

Lovely image! Beautiful flash work and stunning colours. Sharpness looks fine to me.

[Melissa Groo]

Beautiful image, Randy. You really are a master at that flash work. And the sharpness looks great to me too.

[Grace Scalzo]

Another winner, Randy. Personally I love the complimentary green color. I see something in the reflection, in front of this tan colors that I would remove. It doesn't look to be reflecting off him. Interesting pupil shape on this guy.

[Dan Behm]

Randy,
I never tire of seeing these guys, you did so well here this year, Congrats on another fine image, I cannot think of a thing I would like o change other than I wish it were mine!

Dan

[Daniel Cadieux]

A fine image Randy, great colours, and sharpeness looks good to me too. You are right about how the greens in the water play with the greens of the duck. I see the spot Grace mentions and would be inclined to remove it too.

[Mitch Carucci]

Colors are spectacular!

[Petros Petrou]

This is a very nice photo. Great detail and sharpness. I like that the green of the background complements the green on the birds head. I think that it needs a little CW rotation (easy to check if you draw a vertical line between the eye of the bird the reflection of the eye in the water).

[arash_hazeghi]

this one is really nice. well done

[Josh Clark]

Love that green in the water Randy. Good eye for that. Water color that is sometimes overlooked due to the pockets of orange and reds we had. Sharpness looks spot on to me. Nice detail throughout him. The kiss of flash worked well too.