female Common Goldeneye

[Dick Huberty]

I was out last evening practicing using my new Canon 500mm f/4 ll when I came across two female Goldeneyes hanging out in a quiet bay. Used Canon 5d Mark lll, 1.4 extender, 1/2500, f 5.6, ISO 800, handheld. PP in Lightroom and NIK.
Relatively new hobby for me...I am very eager to learn..Your thoughts, please.

[Doug West]

The exposure looks great and you caught some great action.

The one thing I'd do is crop off at least half of the rock because
it's over powering the Goldeneye.

There's also that reed (or whatever it is) that seems to be growing
from the left hand side of the duck (our right). I'd clone that out.

Doug

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Dick,

Lot's to like here.....nice using a 1.4 with the full frame 5D...might consider a tripod with this reach. The vertical crop aligns with the subjects form which adds balance to the frame. The major issue is the negative space on top and the dominate rock/perch on the bottom. Remember the foreground can tug at the eye and it is often the first place we look to enter the picture. Hence, the large rock holds the eye and the space above the head adds nothing to the picture...consider a tighter crop.

The pose, great eye and muted background are really nice...you are on the right track..keep posting and you will improve rapidly. I must admit, this is good and much better than my early post on BPN. Work the crop, consider a tripod and more detail in the subjects body and keep em coming.

Curious...did you sharpen in LL?

[Dick Huberty]

Thanks Doug and Jeff for your ideas. I did a tighter crop removing a lot of the rock and removed the yellow grass coming out of the side of the Goldeneye in the BG. I am not he best in PP...

Jeff I did sharpen a little in LR and when I exported the software gives the option of sharpening for screen which I checked. I don't think either sharpening had much affect on the photo.

[John Chardine]

I like this one Dick. Well done. The light is marvellous. I like the room you have given the subject in the OP. The repost is too tight IMO. I would shave off some from the top and bottom of the OP. When you are removing an element like the yellow stem, you need to move the clone tool up and down and make sure the result looks believable. Here's a quick go at this, also a crop.

[Jim Michael]

I think the original composition is interesting in terms of the coloration of the bird amongst the rock and other features in the scene. I started paying more attention to camouflage last year observing mallards and their interaction visually with the light and reeds. The coloration of the back of the Goldeneye is interesting in its similarity to the rock on which it's perched, and I wonder what the scene might appear to a predator flying overhead. Might that rock have been chosen in part for its color?

[John Chardine]

Hi Jim- I do see the resemblance in the feathers and the rock but I don't think birds generally choose a perched based on how cryptic they may look.

[Dick Huberty]

I am not sure what the predator would be flying overhead.
There are a eagles in this area, but I have never seen them go after a full grown duck. They probably would like to get one of their chicks.
I have attached another Golden Eye that I took in the same sequence.