Hooded Merganser Takeoff #2

Here's another frame from the takeoff sequence of this Hooded Merganser drake, taken on Monday at a pond near the Jersey Shore.

D7000, 500f4 + 1.4, ISO 640, 1/2500s @ f/7.1 manual, gitzo and mongoose.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

BILL:

Excellent dynamic pose, perfect angle in frame,nice framing/comp.

Did you need to pull back the whites in the crest? Not seeing a lot of detail, but the sun angle makes so much difference for that.

Well done.

Cheers

Randy

Hi Bill, excellent capture and dynamic pose. I was thinking about the white as Randy. Happy New Year!!! Loi

Thanks Randy and Loi. The whites aren't clipped -- they're in the high 230's at the brightest -- but you're right that there doesn't seem to be much detail. I tried some Topaz Detail but as you suggest, it could be the sun angle.

Excellent take off captured.Bill Sir.
Love the pose, wing position,water droplets and composition.
Wish You Happy New Year and Happy Birding....2015.

Regards,
Satish.

Another striking low takeoff image, Bill. Nice display of feather detail and composition. Well done.

Happy New Year to you and Joanne.

Geoffrey

Happy New Year Bill!
Excellent take-off pose and nice and sharp.
Takeoff angle is perfect and I like the little wave behind the foot.
Great low POV .
I am happy with the whites.
Gail

Boomsky! Perfect everything imo...dig the crop selection here Bill.

Great shot, Bill! I really like the low angle POV.

Bill:

I wasn't suggesting that the whites were blown at this point, as the brightness is fine, but occ. when you rescue them, you lose some of the detail.

If you really pull the exposure down, perhaps a stop or more, does any detail show up in the whites? If so, I would do a double conversion and blend the two images.

Cheers

Randy

Thanks Randy. The histogram on the RAW file was just about perfect -- nothing blown at either end. I did go back to the RAW file and try a double conversion, to try for a little more detail in the white hood. Here's the result. I'm not sure if there's much more detail (maybe just a little?), or if it just looks a little dirty. Anyway, it's a good suggestion and one to remember in the future.

Beautiful Image love the timing and the POV. I do see more detail on the second image, love both


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A cracking action image ...superb light...no nits from me.

Love this one, Bill -- in every way.

Thanks everyone. Your comments are always appreciated.