Pink-eared Duck

Even with 1000mm this is a bigger crop that I would like. I hope next time when I'm camoflaged the ducks will come closer.

1d MK4, 500mm + 2x ext, 1/640 @ 9, ISO 400, EV +2/3.

Thanks Tom

May need more sharpening looking at the preview here.

Tom I have never even seen an image of this duck so it's pleasure to see this...
If mine, I would crop from behind to get rid of the dark patch.

Just to the right of the frame is a large dead tree. I cropped so I did not have to deal with the tree. Bird may be too central. I may redo this one.

I also have never seen this Duck. i find the image pleasing despite the crop factor.

Nice work Tom with the FG and BG to make the subject stand out.

Mike

I thought the beak of a Northern Shoveler was big. This one's beak is HUGE. Love that pink spot. You have a great angle here and nice light. I would take some off of the left and bottom to take your subject out of the subject of the frame. TFS.

I agree with Marina's assesment. Still an excellent image as presented but the tweaks she suggest will also address you centered concerns.

You have a nice vignette going and it make the centered image work well. Sometimes I wonder if people know more about composition than rule of thirds. I like the catch light in the eye and the fine use of shallow DOF. I’ve never seen one of these Tom and that’s adding to the joy of viewing your image Tom.</SPAN>

Morris</SPAN>

Interesting looking bird, nice low angle, there is too much space around and it's a bit centered I would crop a bit tighter and move it to the left.

Here you go folks. Reworked Image. Even though the bird was fairly still I think this should have been taken at a higher SS.

Like the reworked image best, Tom ! Hope to get near some myself ASAP they are a beautiful challenge. Like the low angle and the beak is well displayed as well.
Best regards
Rod Warnock

Nice image Tom! I like the low angle and BG. Repost is an improvement.