Goslings make the number 12

I guess I have to tell a story on myself... I have been experimenting with dark backgrounds lately, trying to get this certain effect. ;) I knew what chiaroscuro meant (or so I thought) but didn't realize that what I was trying to get was in fact this effect. For some reason I had visions of Dutch Masters paintings, where the sole light source is an oil lamp or something. As a happy result, I have a few of these to share this week (not Dutch Masters). Great theme idea Jackie!

These Canada goslings were paddling around in the local duck pond when they wandered into one of my favorite spots, where there is shade from the trees but the evening light falls from the side. This is a single layer, no filters - just a light round of NR and some sharpening. Hope you like... :)

Kerry, I've been reading a bit today about chiaroscuro and although I have seen many Dutch masters I never realized that this was the technique they used. I love your image (and the coot) and can't wait for more:)
I've been playing with images today and they are not easy.:eek:

Kerry, Cute as a button and the effect seems perfect. I do wish the one on the right was angled a bit more towards us. The neck and the way you highlighted it is wonderful.:)

Very nice lighting! I like the softness of the new feathers against the dark BG. I'm finding the white highlight on the beak of the left duckling, and the various little white spots on the other a bit distracting.

Now you know the name Kerry.:) Might clone out some specular highlights. Nice to do the effect in-camera, it is a lot of PP work otherwise. Good job.

Thank you ladies! I cleaned up the speckles and the highlight on the bill. Good advice! I left the one highlight in the eye on the right. Felt like it needed to be there to "justify" the light source.

As you can tell, I'm really liking this one. :)

I like this better. The catch light in the eye works.

Thank you Anita!

Wonderful image to start out with and repost is excellent. The title had me puzzled at first. Loved it when it clicked. This would have been a perfect image for a challenge I worked on a few years ago. The mission was to go out and find numbers and letters hidden in ordinary shots.

Patti, sounds like a great idea for a theme!