Wood Duck.

[Karl Egressy]

This duck has been a local celebrity for the last couple of weeks.
It hangs out with mallards, especially one lady duck.
I applied some blur to the background, not including the rock to the left.
Thanks for looking.

Cano 1D MIV
Canon 500 f4.0 + 1.4x
ISO 800
f 7.1
1/800 s

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Karl. I like the relaxed one-foot-up pose, the low shooting angle, the head turn, the comp, and the fact that the iridescent cheek patch is nicely lit up. On my monitor the white on the bill looks pretty bright and without detail - you might try toning that down a bit. Also, I'm seeing some ghosting along the edge of the rock on the left - caused by blurring the background? Should be an easy fix. A couple tweaks should put this one over the top!

[Don Nelson]

Great head turn, and excellent application of blur on the background.
Well lighted. I like this one.

[Grace Scalzo]

Nice one, Karl! You are so consistant with your postings and your variety of species. I'd sharpen the eye just a bit more and wouldn't mind more room at the bottom.

[Karl Egressy]

Hi Karl. I like the relaxed one-foot-up pose, the low shooting angle, the head turn, the comp, and the fact that the iridescent cheek patch is nicely lit up. On my monitor the white on the bill looks pretty bright and without detail - you might try toning that down a bit. Also, I'm seeing some ghosting along the edge of the rock on the left - caused by blurring the background? Should be an easy fix. A couple tweaks should put this one over the top!

Thanks, Steve.
The value in the white was 253 before. Now it is at around 230. I also tried to get rid of the ghosting, I hope I succeeded.

[Bill Dix]

Hi Karl. The bird is stunning. Of course Wood Ducks are always stunning, but the light, head turn and one-foot pose make this one really special. The blurred bg works well. I'd be awfully tempted to remove the rock on the left, but it's a fine image either way.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Superb image Karl, I like the RP better, nice light, detail is excellent, I like the raised foot and clean BG.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Colours, exposure, pose, comp all look great. I do wish the rock at left was not there...I would not necessarily clone it out, I just mean I wish it was not there at time of capture.

[Melissa Groo]

Beautiful portrait, Karl. Agree with Daniel about the rock but still a lovely image. Great head angle showing off that irridescence. Did you sharpen the eye yet as Grace suggested? To me it still looks like it could use another round of sharpening.

[Karl Egressy]

Colours, exposure, pose, comp all look great. I do wish the rock at left was not there...I would not necessarily clone it out, I just mean I wish it was not there at time of capture.

Thanks, Daniel.
I had two versions of this shot. To be honest, I like the rock makes the comp. more interesting for me.

[Karl Egressy]

Beautiful portrait, Karl. Agree with Daniel about the rock but still a lovely image. Great head angle showing off that irridescence. Did you sharpen the eye yet as Grace suggested? To me it still looks like it could use another round of sharpening.

Thanks Melissa. I forgot about the additional sharpening suggested by Grace.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent shot!!!!
Love the pose, especially with the one leg stand.
Great comp, excellent details, exposed well, and nice background.
Well done.

[Shawn Zierman]

I enjoy seeing the full bodied duck, out of the water, and the setting is unique and refreshingly
different than what I'm used to seeing for wood duck images. Very nice light quality. Would like
a more spacious presenation, particularly more room on the bottom. Did you try any frames without
the 1.4 on? Pose and head angle are strong points of the image too...

[Frank Schauf]

Excellent Pose and light, good exposure control.