Sunset Landing

[Bill Dix]

Common Merganser drake on my local lake two nights ago. Most of the lake was frozen, with just a patch of open water where a flock of Mergansers was gathering. Not as close as I might have liked; I'm sure they were aware of me hunkered down in the snow. The sun was just about to touch the horizon, and the far lakeshore was in total shadow, making for some pretty dramatic lighting. I was trying to shoot swimming birds and wasn't really set for flight, but managed to get this guy as he came in to join the group. Evicted several oof mergansers in the BG. C&C appreciated as always.

D7000, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 800, 1/1250s @ f/7.1 manual.

[David Salem]

I love the last evening light and how it looks on subjects but so many people advise me to adjust the white balance to try to remove the look. I personally like it and keep it my frames just like you have. The landing pose looks nice and I like the dark BG. Not much detail in the head but enough that it is defined from the dark BG
Nice work

[Jonathan Ashton]

Very dramatic love the colours and the timing.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, there are times when an obvious warm cast caused by the very early or late sunlight needs to be kept in. I like the mood it created here. Good job on the cloning of the other birds...I'm sure the very dark BG helped make it a bit easier :-)

[gail bisson]

I like the dramatic lighting for sure!
I just wish we could see a bit more detail on the head but I like the fact that you were still able to show the iridescence.
I really like the IQ and the feet remind me of a waterskier!
Gail

[John Rowell]

Great detail in the wings and the feet planing on the water make for a perfectly timed shot. Neither the strong yellow cast or the dark head bother me, as that's the way it looked. A definite mood shot, well captured.

[Raybel Robles]

Very nice action shot. The landing pose is a good one. Clearly the bright orange light adds a lot to the image and I love it, very dramatic indeed. TFS

[dankearl]

I am on the fence about the cast.
I really like the dark BG and think that a bright white might look more dramatic.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent landing pose in wonderful evening lights. Reflection and flash of water looks beautiful on dark BG.
Love the frame Bill Sir.

Regards,
Satish.

[christopher galeski]

loverly evening shot,like the dark BG and the setting sun on the bird,nice one.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all. Here's a repost with a few subtle changes: I slightly opened up the blacks on the head; slightly brightened the BG so the head wouldn't get lost; did a tiny bit of eye-doctor work; and very slightly desaturated the reds and yellows in the breast, but not so much as to lose the peachy last light. I'm curious to know if you think this is an improvement on the OP.

[Bill Dix]

And one more version, with the distracting dark band removed from the upper BG. Yea or Nay?

[David Salem]

The last one looks great Bill. Much better without that dark band.

[Bill Dix]

The last one looks great Bill. Much better without that dark band.

Thanks David.