Hooded Merganser Part II

Hi Guys,

Here's the female of the earlier posted male Hooded Merganser. Was very pleased to be able to photograph both of them..

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Canon Eos 1D Mark IV
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: F 4
Exposure mode: M
Exposure compensation: - 1
Flash:no
Flash exposure compensation:
Metering mode: Evaluative
Drive mode: AI Focus
ISO: 400
Lens: Canon 600mm F4
Focal length:780 mm
AF mode: Auto Focus
On Beanbag from water's edge
Levels/Curves/USM/Contrast/Saturation/Noise Ninja/Home stewed Sharpening-mix/ Adobe Photoshop CS5

Hi Jeroen, Good low angle, and I like the different colours of brown on both the duck, and complimentary BG. I feel your ss has let you down with regards to sharpness, but I would try some selective sharpening to see if you can show up more detail. If you are fine with it, I would remove the stick in front, and the one behind the tail.

Nice image Jeroen! I like the low angle and water texture.

Hi Guys,

Have to agree it coud use some selective sharpness so that's what i did in this repost. I personally like the stick coming out of the water but that's personal i guess.

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

I like the repost better. Are you going to print and hang the male and female together?

Your repost does look much better with the additional sharpening. I respect your decision to leave the stick.

A male and now a female...I guess you'll be looking for babies soon! I like the relaxed but alert pose. Nice tones throughout too. I know you like that branch but I find it unlucky that it was there, and I personally find the heavy vignetting-like effect too strong...was that done in post?

This is all just a matter of taste, but I would lighten the viginette effect a 1/3 stop or so. And I like the branch as well.

I like the dark colors but here is another vote to get rid of the branch that intersects with the beak and agree with decreasing the vignetting a bit,
Gail

As opninions are divided i decided to post another version with the stick removed and the vignette lightened up a bit.
I do like the lighter vignette but personally i prefer the stick as a reference point.

By the way this species is called "Kokardezaagbek" ik Dutch wich is hard for me to pronounce so wonder how you guys would pronounce it...:w3:S3:

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Excellent PP work. It must have been difficult with the reflection. I really like the repost and now you can hang them on the wall side by side!!
I would say it as KOKAR rhymes with trochar -day ya-bek ?
Gail

The third time is the charm.
The last repost is very nice.

Thanks for your comments guys!
Gail...you made me laugh with the pronouncement of Kokardezaagbek..:w3

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Wonderful image. Love the water, excellent pose, and I like the very last repost the best.
Well done.

OK, so how do you say it?
Gail
:bg3:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeroen Stel

Thanks for your comments guys!
Gail...you made me laugh with the pronouncement of Kokardezaagbek..:w3

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

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