Leaping Shoveler

Since Denise announced the 1/8 sec theme week over a month ago, I have been trying to get images that might eventually be keepers! After lots of misses, I think I have few presentable ones and need your opinion if these are keepers. I found the shovelers are probably slowest as they leap off the water to get some interesting blur compared to when they are in full flight. The settings were -

7D, Sigma 50-500mm @ 500mm Hand held
1/8 sec, f/16 Mode: Tv Metering: Evaluative ISO: 200

Applied Denoise3 and used a layer mask to bring back the drake. Removed a shadow eye from the displaced blur outline. Applied usm on the final web version. Hope you like it. Your C&C will be appreciated...

Well done. You must have done a good job of panning to get the head so nice at 1/8 sec. A crop from the bottom would likely strengthen it.

Indranil, Very cool blur. I like the details in the face and the colors are great. Agree w/ a small slice off the bottom.:)

Artie, Denise, thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it a lot. Here is a repost with a different crop that takes the slice off the bottom. Is this better?

I like it ALOT better; not cropping from the front might yield another nice image.

Nice repost Indranil. :)

Thanks Artie for all the suggestions. Here is another version with the only the bottom off... (I do like this one better than the previous repost!)

Very nice, Indranil. Perfect amount of blur and detail,and has a wonderful sense of motion. Both reposts looks great. I do see a little noise in the wing area that I might remove. Well done. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christopher Miller

Very nice, Indranil. Perfect amount of blur and detail,and has a wonderful sense of motion. Both reposts looks great. I do see a little noise in the wing area that I might remove. Well done. :)

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Hi Christopher, thanks. I did try to remove the noise but it was losing too much of the details. So I used a lower opacity while painting using the layer mask. I will try to change more and see if that comes out better.

Indranil, I like both of the reposts. The edge might go to your first repost :) Thanks for the various versions!

Thanks Artie. Here is the final version after removing the noise as Christopher suggested...

Looks perfect, Indranil! :)

Definitely a keeper, Indranil! Your last post looks great! Lovely work:)

Beautifully done Indranil.:)

Hi Indranil,
These aren't as easy as they appear! Very nice feel and look to this and I prefer the crop in pane #7....noise rework in the last one was right on!

Love the dark moodiness in this Indranil - very nice!
Best,
Nicki

Denise, Roman, Nicki, thanks for the comments. Appreciate it a lot.

Indranil, beautifully done. I love the bg as well as the shoveler - it is a really nice compliment.