Red Head Duck in early morning light

[Amol Khedgikar]

This is my first red head shot.

The light was very young in the day so it was kind of dark. and he was swimming away from the sun. I clicked just when I thought he turned his head enough for the light to illuminate the eye.

All CCs are welcome and appreciated.

7D+500+1.4, 1/1000, 5.6, ISO 500. sharpening and some crop.

[Jack Breakfast]

That is some smashing light you have there! The reds are singing! They eye looks good and the colors of water and BG are quite lovely. Some might cry out for more detail in the blacks, but personally I am not bothered by the lack of detail there. I would love to see a little bit more room on the left; the fine duck is too close to frame's edge for my taste. Overall: a very nice picture of a beautiful duck swimming!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

+1 to Jack's excellent feedback. The blacks don't show details, but the interesting light has created a nice mood. It's all about that red head here for me.
As Jack said, I'd move him further into the frame and also do a slight CCW rotation. Very nice work Amol.

[Bill Dix]

What a handsome bird. You caught his red head beautifully. Good critique above: yes to more room on the left, and you might be able to tweak some detail out of the black if you went back to the RAW file. But handsome just as is. Great low POV.

[Randy Stout]

Amol:

Excellent input from the guys already. Yes, more room on the left. The contrast is a bit too high, which has blocked up the blacks some, and also made the pattern on the back a bit to bold. I have shot these guys a lot, and their pattern normally isn't quite to dramatic on the back.

Great shooting angle, and yes, a sliver of CCW rotation.

Hope you get more opportunities with him.

Cheers

Randy

[John Cooper]

A very handsome duck indeed Amol enhanced with that beautiful light. Very sharp, great BG and contrast already mentioned, but I would just like to see a little more canvas behind the tail.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice low angle and striking colours, Amol. The IQ looks very good.

[dankearl]

Very nice light, I agree with a bit more room around, but very attractive.

[Shawn Zierman]

What a handsome drake! Love the water color.
You've received excellent feedback thus far, and I particularly agree that more
space is needed behind the subject. A slight body turn towards the light source
would probably have been all that was needed to illuminate the blacks on the chest....

[Satish Ranadive]

Amol:
Absolutely superb image with wonderful lights.Love the reds on head and neck,low angle and BG.

Regards,
Satish.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Amol, good low angle, and love the colour of the head, and that yellow eye. The light is soft, lovely colours to the water BG and agree the blacks are a touch blocked. Yes to a bit of CCW rotation.

[Corey Hayes]

Great shot, love the lighting.

[Amol Khedgikar]

I could not find a better way to repost.

This is a repost with suggested changes- bit more space behind the DUCK, slight CCW rotation, (Now the bird looks more centered than I normally like , decided against a loose crop in front though).

However, The black patch on the throat/ chest was brilliant black on the bird. It looks exactly as it looked through the view finder that day. I think lightening it would not be a true representation of that color. so I didnt change that.

Youe thoughts on the repost please.