Out of the shadows.

[dankearl]

Female Bufflehead

1/2500, f7.1, 600mm (300 w/2x), D800, HH

002_1174bp.jpg

[vishaljadhav]

Interesting image here Dan,
I like the use of light in here, the IQ is fantastic and lovely details, front on makes it very unique
Dark blue and green water makes it interesting

[Henry Domke]

The high contrast a challenge. For my taste the image is much too dark.
What software did you use to process the image?
In Lightroom you could increase the exposure slightly, significantly brighten the shadows and pull down the highlights. Since you are using the D800 you should have lots of dynamic range you could play with here.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Hi Dan,

I'd keep the exposure as is - it's what makes the image, IMO. Very nice warm/cool effect you are getting here with the side lit subject.

I might consider just the slightest CW rotation and would clean up the second catchlight in the eye. Otherwise, great thinking with exposure.

Miguel

[gail bisson]

Hi Dan,
I would kill to be able to get so close to a bufflehead! Just kidding.
I love the low POV and I like the side lighting. I wounder if you could raise the exposure just a little bit on the shadowed side around the eye and reduce the blue color cast ever so slightly. It would give you more detail in the shadowed area but still maintain the ambience of the image.
I think this could be rotated CW slighltly. A fine image,
Gail

[Holger Leyrer]

I have now looked at the photo for over a minute. First i think it is to dark. But no, it is perfect (ok, a little rotate)

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like the concept of the image and I also like the heavy side lighting in this case, but I just wish she had turned her head more towards her left (our right) as I find the shaded side of the face just a tad too much. Very dramatic though, and I dig the low angle.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Dank, As an avowed hater of sidelight I must admit that I sorta like this one. EXP Is good but the whites could use a bit of a Linear Burn or some Detail Extractor. I like the bird's mysterious left eye.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Dan, I really like this. Although I think it is level... it's likely the back-wake creating an illusion of needing some CW... but perhaps a tad may help. I would like to see a bit more space too... BUT, that's just me. Wonderful to view an image that would look SO much better on my living room wall, rather than in Sibley's FG. Great work.

[Matthew Briggs]

I like the play you've got with the shadows and the light coming onto the subject.
Hope to see this species again on my next trip to the US in a few years time.

Thank you kindly for sharing this ^.^

[mohammad reza shahab]

Wonderful light & low angle.good Detail.

[Marina Scarr]

This is a pretty impressive image, Dan.