Fast Food!

[gail bisson]

This female common merganser was being chased by the other mergansers. I am sad to say that she did lose the flounder to another duck.
Canon 1DX
600mm and 1.4x
1/3200 f 9 ISO 800
PP: Small crop to pano, cloned in blue water at the top ( see original in pane 2), levels, NR to BG, DE and USM to JPEG
Comments and critiques always learned from and appreciated with thanks,
Gail

[gail bisson]

This is the image with the strip of ice at the top.

[Tim Harding]

Another great image Gail. Cloning out the ice was the right move. I wonder if you could get away with moving the bird more to the right in the pano (just a little), to give more of a sense of moving across the scene? Do you have more splashing water behind the bird? Overall fantastic!

[Mike Poole]

Absolutely cracking shot! I love the action, the pose, the trailing water, everything about it. The 'new' background is also better than the original

[John Robinson]

Yes- great action shotGail and I certainly prefer the second one.
JohnR

[Karl Egressy]

Wow, striking action shot, Gail. I like the cleaner look of the original.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Another stunner from your merganser series. I actually like the bit of sky on the top, although I'd maybe blend it in a bit more. It gives me a sense of you being lower to eye level.

Either way, another fantastic capture. Maybe just take a little bit off the bottom?

[William Dickson]

Brilliant action shot. Well done Gail

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super shot Gail wonderful action and detail the fish is crystal clear. Regarding the ice at the top, I don't mind it but I like both versions, I would suggest however a little bit more head room (maybe a sliver less at the bottom?) may improve even further - love it!

[gail bisson]

Another great image Gail. Cloning out the ice was the right move. I wonder if you could get away with moving the bird more to the right in the pano (just a little), to give more of a sense of moving across the scene? Do you have more splashing water behind the bird? Overall fantastic!

Hi Tim,
I don't have any more room front or back.Wish I did! Thanks for your comments.
Gail

[Jim Crosswell]

Great action you captured here Gail! I like the splash, water drops, IQ and exposure. I'm going with the OP.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, lots of action here, and what I really like in this is the 'flapping' body of the flounder, either still struggling to breathe, or from the running of the merganser. Love the flying droplets.

[David Salem]

Very cool action shot Gail. Love the water splashing and the position of the flounder as he is being tossed about as the mergie is taking off. Like it without the ice best. Nice work.