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Thread: Another Long-tailed Duck, and a Cautionary Tale

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Default Another Long-tailed Duck, and a Cautionary Tale

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    Here's another from early March at Barnegat Light. I find it tough to catch these guys in flight. On this one, I wish his near wing were up. Some time back I posted the frame just prior to this, where he was banking: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ing?highlight= . I would like to think that the next frame would have been the killer. But alas, there is no next frame.

    I normally set my tripod with one leg pointing out toward my subject, but here I was up against the railing of the walkway so I put two legs parallel to the rail with the third one pointing back toward me. As I swiveled the rig to track this guy, I took a step to the right, kicking the leg and losing focus on the bird. Live and learn?? (or not).

    D7000, 700mm, ISO 800, 1/2500s @ f/8 manual, gitzo and mongoose.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Bill, good placement in the frame, and I like the angled flight pose flying up into the frame. The duck is nicely separated from the water BG, and agree, a better near wing position would have been first prize.

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    Sweet shot Bill.
    Exposed very well, nice IQ, well composed, and I really like the dark water.
    Very well done.

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    Very nice, Bill. I spent quite a while on the Jetty the last week in March and got several images of these guys, but no good in-flight ones.
    I agree that having the near-wing up would have been great, but I would love to have this one in my portfolio.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    I think your self critique was spot on, but still a nice flight photo and a nice angle coming out of the frame.
    Dan Kearl

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    ummmm ?...I rather like the wing as it is, seems to work in properly with the slight banking pose. Nicely composed and stands out nicely against the water

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I understand your concern about the near wing, but it does work well enough here. Good comp, colours. I feel an additional round of sharpening to the face would be good.

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    Superb flight pose with very nice wing position, Bill Sir.
    Love the way the bird pops up against the nice backdrop.
    Love the composition.

    Regards,
    Satish.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Super shot, I like the pose - looks good to me and the exposure is spot on, the background sets it off very nicely.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments, as always. Yes, Daniel, the face does look like a tad more USM would help the posted image. The jpeg looked fine on my screen prior to posting, to the point that I was afraid of oversharpening; but after posting it looks just a tiny bit soft.

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