Redhead Pose at Sunset

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D4
500m +1.4x
Handheld

ISO 800
1/320 sec
f/7.1

Took this a couple days ago at a local lake. First time I've photographed a redhead duck. The light was really nice, sun was almost down. I stopped down a bit due to duck's position.

In CS5, cloned out part of a mallard head at bottom of frame. Crop of maybe 40%. Sharpening. Pulled up shadows a bit and did some recovery in whites. Some darkening of the lighter parts of water as I found them distracting. Slight vignetting.

I greatly appreciate all C and C. Thanks for looking.

[Sachin Saraf]

Nice capture Melissa lovely Eye contact and nice HA.

[Andrew Merwin]

I really like this image. I like the reeds on the log, the water on the log, the redhead's pose, the sharpness, the BG. Very well done. TFS.

[Bill Dix]

Lovely shot, Melissa. Nice pose, great detail. I wonder if the bright areas in the BG might be toned down even further, and maybe a little more NR? This is a species that has eluded me (one of many).

[Melissa Groo]

Lovely shot, Melissa. Nice pose, great detail. I wonder if the bright areas in the BG might be toned down even further, and maybe a little more NR? This is a species that has eluded me (one of many).T

Thanks for your comments, Bill, Sachin and Andrew. Bill, here is a repost with your suggestions incorporated. Do you think I brought the lightness down enough?

[Bill Dix]

Yes -- IMHO this helps keep the eye on the bird without straying to the bright spots in the BG. BTW, forgot to say that I like the comp with the grass on the wet log.

[Sachin Saraf]

Repost works for me...even I thought the same initially about BG but did not mention :-)

[gail bisson]

The IQ on this one is great and excellent DOF. My favorite part are the grasses over the log.I must be getting old eyes because I really don't see that much difference between the Op and the repost! Time to see the optometrist...
Gail

[Andrew Merwin]

I agree with Gail re. the RP. I can barely see a difference (Cataracts?). I also just noticed the water drop on the end of the redhead's bill. That is a nice touch.

[Melissa Groo]

Ha! This made me go back and look closely as yes at first glance they do kind of look strikingly similar! But if I look at them side by side I do see that some spots are a bit darker, particularly if you look close to the body on the right side. And I think I see less noise. But let me know if I should go darker on the BG or run noise again. Thanks Gail and Andrew!

[Bill Dix]

The IQ on this one is great and excellent DOF. My favorite part are the grasses over the log.I must be getting old eyes because I really don't see that much difference between the Op and the repost! Time to see the optometrist...
Gail

If you open the thread in a second window, and toggle back and forth between the OP and repost, you can see a subtle difference -- about 5 or 6 points in the brightest spots, as measured by ColorPic. Admittedly slight, but I thought it helped.

[dankearl]

Very nice, nice perch, IQ and pose.
The Redhead looks great against the BG.
The DOF with the log in focus, makes the shot.
Well done.

[Arthur Morris]

Repost looks a bit lighter overall.... I think :e3. I would suggest sharpening the head a bit more. Good use of d-o-f. The raggedy part of the log lower left bugs me a bit; I prefer the smoother area on the right. But I like the green strands. Not much you could have done....

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Melissa, awesome shot. Loved the pose and the HA. nice light, details and DOF.