Wood Duck Flap...

[dankearl]

I thought about cloning out the mallard but I thought better of it.
Just another day at the duck pond.

1/3200, f5.6, iso1000, 290mm (70-200 w/ 1.7) D610, HH

I get pretty close to them,
This is almost Full Frame.

610_0351bpn.jpg

[Raybel Robles]

This wing flap pose by ducks never gets old. I really like them. Lovely sharp subject with nice details.

I'm not sure about the duck in the back, in a way I like it because it shows a bit more of the habitat, and the duck is not too in focus to be a distraction. But I guess both version of the image should work nice. I would also clone a bit more green to the end of the frame on the top left hand corner where there is a dark area, just to even the BG a bit.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely image, excellent IQ. I could go either way on cloning out the out of focus Mallard. I probably would do as Raybel suggested regarding cloning out the dark area in the top left. Thank you for sharing.

[Bill Dix]

Terrific wing flap. I wish I could get close to these guys. At first I thought the Mallard was a distraction, but the more I look at it, the more I think it adds interest. Could go either way. I might be tempted to desaturate the greens in the bg just a bit to keep them from taking my eye away from the lovely woodie.

[adrian dancy]

I love the colours. The image is crisp and the duck's pose and display are superb. Whites look good and natural around the throat area.
Given the content of the image I can easily live with the Mallard's head and the dark area upper left. Breast whites look good though there may be a slight cyan cast if the upper breast is not picking up a blue sky....hard to judge.
The only thing that bugs me is the halo above the bird's crown which suggests an overspill with the dodging tool? One of the best images I have seen of this species.

Nice work.

[WillieHall]

the perfect focus on his eye and body details catch my eye first, the mallard just adds to the "day at the pond" theme. Well done on exposure, hard to get right with this colorful bird.

[dankearl]

Adrian,
Good eye, I agree about the halo, just sloppy PP.
I really didn't have to do much to this, It is pretty much out of camera although I lifted the exposure on the head which
gave the halo.
I appreciate the input.....

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Perfectly timed for peak stretch - great pose and perfect head angle. You get bonus points for the purple cheek. I'm loving the rich green BG. The mallard isn't distracting, but I'd personally evict it. Halo mentioned.
A terrific wing flap image Dan.

[Binu John]

Outstanding shot of the Wood Duck, Dan! The timing couldn't be any better. Killer pose, excellent exposure, BG and details. Very well done!!

[David Salem]

The head is lit perfectly and shows all the nice colors in it. Exposure is right on and the after the bath flap looks great. The mallard is fine for web posting but if I were going to print it or put it on my website, I would remove it, and the halo. Nice work Dan.

[christopher galeski]

nice capture,like the pose,like the water drops on the breast and coming off the breast,nice detail.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Excellent shot great timing, on balance I think I would remove the mallard.

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the dynamic pose, low angle as well as the details and nice colors. I'd also clone out the OOF mallard and maybe de-sat the brightest greens that compete with the wood duck

TFS, great frame

[Ritesh Nangare]

Great Colors ,Sharpness seems to perfect to me, awesome light .......

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dan, excellent shooting angle, and very well timed for the wingflap - you captured the max flap. Sharp where it counts, and you nailed the colours on the head nicely. I would evict the OOF Mallard and tone down the brighter part of the URC of the BG.

[Marina Scarr]

Absolutely killer wing flap. I see a halo over your bird's head. I would personally clone out the mallard and reduce the bright greens in the BG.

[gail bisson]

Hi Dan,
I hate coming late to the party because I don't want to parrot what everyone else has said!!
Personally I would get rid of the mallard.
Great image with lots of lovely colors and details.
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

Those pesky mallards eh! Terrific wing flap, fully extended. I also like the view of the far wing with curled primaries.