Wood Duck with Fall Foliage

[Bill Dix]

He was motoring along the canal, close to the far bank. Not long ago I posted another frame of him, with a sort of camo look to the nearby foliage. On this one I've tried a heavy blur to push the leaf-covered bank into the background. Whaddya think?

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

Oops. Forgot to add "Theme". Don't know if a Mod can fix it.

[Ross Taylor]

Hi Bill, extraordinary shot! The background and reflection in the water is so nice. The only thing I can suggest is to look at the transition line between water and background ... it suggests a slight CCW rotation is in order. Otherwise, composition is great :)

TFS-Ross

[Karl Egressy]

very colorful and excellent reflection, Bill. I really like the multicolor background.

[Giovanni Frescura]

Veri nice, reflection and color are ok.
I would like a bit more space

[Marina Scarr]

Love WD image, Bill! Nice little wave, and I like the position of the head.

[keith mitchell]

Bill your duck blends beautifully with that smashing BG,pastel feel to the whole image which I like a lot.

Keith.

[gail bisson]

This is great Bill.
I love the color palette and the POV.
Great IQ and I am OK with your heavy blur but would tweak the blur at the intersection of the water and shoreline. Just doesn't look quite right ( in the area in front of the dusk)
You have exposed this duck perfectly- whites look good, bill looks good and the light has shown off the iridescence perfectly,
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all.

Yes, Gail, I had trouble with the blur at that intersection. I'll go back and take another stab at it.

[Bill Dix]

I finally got back to this one, to address the intersection between water and shoreline in front of the duck. I think this is a little better, but maybe still not totally convincing.