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Thread: Red-breasted Merganser

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    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
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    Default Red-breasted Merganser

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This dates back to last March at Ft. DeSoto, FL. I never have much luck with these guys as they are usually quite skittish. Luckily this particular visitor gave me a decent opportunity.

    1D MkIII
    500 f/4 + 1.4x
    1/1000 @ f/9
    EV 0
    ISO 400
    Processed in LR4 w/ finishing in CS6
    david pugsley PHOTOGRAPHY
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    Great detail and awesome light in this one David. I absolutely love the background, it almost looks like it was painted in watercolor. I especially like the shooting angle that you chose, allowing you to keep the merganser entirely on one background. If you were any lower, his head crosses the land. Any higher and you might lose that beautiful green. Splendid shot!

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    Nice shot, I like the colors band background and the bird has great detail, I also like how smooth the water looks.

    Nice work.

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    Wonderful low angle and background, just super. Perfect head turn towards you. Excellent details and IQ. Super image, David.

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    Wow details and an absolutely fantastic light coupled with a great low angle. I also like the greens in the background. May be I would have tried to crop a little from the top but thats just my opinion.


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    Munish Kaushik
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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Great low angle, colours, details. Perfect HA. Well done here.

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    WoW!! Teriffic shot. Excellent low angle, very nice light, wonderful background, great pose especially the head turn it gave you.
    Very well done.

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Super capture, David. The details you acquired here are amazing, esp evidenced by the feathers on the back of the head.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Beautiful light and colors. SH, EXP, and head angle all perfect. Why would I have wanted you to be 3 inches higher???

    Thanks again for your help carrying the boxes at the Orange Audubon meeting! I hope that our paths cross next spring at DeSoto.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Beautiful light and colors. SH, EXP, and head angle all perfect. Why would I have wanted you to be 3 inches higher???

    Thanks again for your help carrying the boxes at the Orange Audubon meeting! I hope that our paths cross next spring at DeSoto.
    Artie, is the shoreline a bit too close to the head for you? Did I pass the quiz? :)
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Pugsley View Post
    Artie, is the shoreline a bit too close to the head for you? Did I pass the quiz? :)
    Bingo. You passed. I would think that this was made at North Beach in the morning with you in the water facing the Gulf and not too far from the Gulf; to the right of the big sandbar as you were facing west....

    ps: Just a few inches higher would have given some separation there while maintaining the low perspective look. Were you on your knees?
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    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Bingo. You passed. I would think that this was made at North Beach in the morning with you in the water facing the Gulf and not too far from the Gulf; to the right of the big sandbar as you were facing west....

    ps: Just a few inches higher would have given some separation there while maintaining the low perspective look. Were you on your knees?
    Artie, you are spot-on with your location and technique analysis. The merganser was on shore resting when he decided to head back into the water. Unfortunately I had no chance of raising the rig before he zipped by. I was either on my knees or sitting with the lens barely above water.
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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    David:

    Lovely painterly quality as pointed out above. A truly minor observation, the dark wavelet at the left frame edge, at the level of the neck, catches my eye a bit too much, and I would consider dodging the darker area just a sliver. I think that would add to the smooth painterly character. Beautiful as is however.

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    Quote Originally Posted by David Pugsley View Post
    Artie, you are spot-on with your location and technique analysis. The merganser was on shore resting when he decided to head back into the water. Unfortunately I had no chance of raising the rig before he zipped by. I was either on my knees or sitting with the lens barely above water.
    On a tripod?
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    David: Lovely painterly quality as pointed out above. A truly minor observation, the dark wavelet at the left frame edge, at the level of the neck, catches my eye a bit too much, and I would consider dodging the darker area just a sliver. I think that would add to the smooth painterly character. Beautiful as is however. Cheers Randy
    I actually like the dark area on the left as it balances the composition. Actually, I'd love to see a bit more of it on the left. Horses for courses :)
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    On a tripod?
    Yes indeed.
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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Thanks. This might or might not have worked: when you need to get two or three inches higher fast simply pull each of the legs in a bit..... First two, then one..... Do not drop the lens in the water when do so. It works better on land or when standing :).
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  18. #18
    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
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    Thanks for the tip. Going to Ft D tomorrow to see what I can get into.
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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    YAW. Have fun; wish that I could join you but I have too much work to do with a huge month long trip coming up....
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










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