Last winter mallard - I hope!

[Randy Stout]

This hen was imaged a few weeks ago. The weather is showing signs of easing up. Still snow on the ground and unseasonably cold, but the sun has some warmth.

D4 500 AFS f/4 @ 6.3 1/2500s ISO 1000 hand held

Post: Selective sharpening, minor crop

She is angling a bit away, but I liked the snow, BG and those feet!

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheer

Randy

[Don Nelson]

Very interesting flight shot. Snow in the adds to the image, IMHO.
If it were mine, I'd print it just a little darker, I envision something like this (but this is just a personal preference....)

[Randy Stout]

Thanks Don:

I appreciate your repost, and I think that a slightly darker version is a good option. Perhaps somewhere in between the two.

Cheers

Randy

[Nick Palmieri]

Great flight pose, nice environment. I'm okay with the brighter version as I think it adds to the winter environment. Nice job as usual randy!

[Arthur Morris]

If I had to choose one I'd go with the original post. What I like best here is that the square head angle is perfect with the bird's body angled ever-so-slightly away from us.

[Frank Schauf]

Really nice flight shot and great details.

[Shawn Zierman]

OP would be my preference. Light, airy, wintery light...looks really good. Falling snow looks just right.

[vishaljadhav]

so perfectly captured in mid air, the exposure is lovely spot on and the composition is mind blowing , the snow surely adds a lot to the image
on a personal preference i may put the image somewhere between the 2 posted
superb image

[christopher galeski]

great flight shot and pose,the light is magic,like the snow falling in the BG adds to the image,your post is the one for me.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Brilliant shot Randy, the original is for me a little overexposed, just a tad less and it would be just right!

[David Salem]

Great incoming shot of this hen. The detail is awesome and the head is stunning. I like the snow on the feet and the wintery feel to the scene. I would go with a version between the OP and Dons. Great capture.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for the input. I have looked at the brightness on 4 different screens, and they all render it slightly differently, even three of them are calibrated. I am thinking to be safe, just a sliver darker than my original, but not much. I think the lighter rendition goes well with the winter seen

I really appreciate your input.

Cheers

Randy

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent Randy, my choice is somewhere between the two, closer to your orig. dynamic pose and the winter ambiance is captured well. The only thing that can push this up a nudge if if the wings were fully stretched. Sure the D4 high-speed burst helps here...

[Karl Egressy]

Randy,
Excellent flight pose, great light and the falling snow and snow on the feet tells the story.