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Thread: Bufflehead from the Kayak

  1. #1
    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Default Bufflehead from the Kayak

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    We finally had a sunny morning on Wednesday, so I dragged the kayak out for the second time in 2019.

    Was tough shooting since sun was in south and wind was from the north. As soon as I paddled into position near a bird,
    the wind pushed me away! Best days are with the sun and wind from same direction. I like to have some wind to get
    texture on the water. Wind also helps generate swell which brings the birds up towards the lens since I can't get it
    right onto the water from inside the boat.

    Not sure there's a tougher exposure among North American birds. You've gotta get enough light at just the right angle
    to get the sheen on the head, but no so much you blow the super pure whites away.

    Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
    1/4000 at f/5.6, ISO 400, handheld
    Processed in LR CC. Clone out a few minor distraction on the water.
    I also added about some very light vignette in each corner. This was the first time I've ever done this but think it strengthens the spotlight effect and pushes all attention right onto his face.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    This is gorgeous Dorian.
    Low angle is killer and IQ rocks. The iridescence is perfectly and beautifully showcased.
    Did you do any recovery on the whites at the back of the head? One area looks a bit grey.
    I would like a bit more room on the RHS.
    I find it hard to tell that you did some vignetting. I think I would have to see the images side by side.
    Really really nice!

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    Sheen extravaganza Dorian, ooohhh eee so nice! I'm in agreement w Gail, more room on RHS, and patch of grey/white. Im focusing only on the head and it looks stunning! very cheeky bufflehead boy.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    XWD. Extremely well done in difficult conditions. The result is fabulous. I love the bow wave.

    with love, artie
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  5. #5
    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gail bisson View Post
    This is gorgeous Dorian.
    Low angle is killer and IQ rocks. The iridescence is perfectly and beautifully showcased.
    Did you do any recovery on the whites at the back of the head? One area looks a bit grey.
    I would like a bit more room on the RHS.
    I find it hard to tell that you did some vignetting. I think I would have to see the images side by side.
    Really really nice!
    I globally recovered the highlights but did not do any specific work on the head. That slightly darker area results from slightly uneven lighting across the bird's face. Head was not perfectly perpendicular the sun.
    Last edited by Dorian Anderson; 02-09-2019 at 06:05 PM.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    This is really nice... i shoot a lot of Buffleheads and you nailed the color and kept the whites intact... nice work.
    Dan Kearl

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I love everything about this except for what I feel looks like a greenish cast overall. A great look at the sheen on the head feathers.

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    Gorgeous duck, the exposure is wonderful. Perfect light angle for the iridescence. I would guess that the white would control the exposure. Nice work, Dorian. Thank you for sharing.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Love the sheen of color on that head. Angle is spot on. Have fun with the kayak.

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    These low angle waterfowl shots are amazing! Very nice light and colors, great exposure and nice looking water. I think the whites look a bit grey/yellowish, maybe due to highlight recovery?

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    I almost didn't click on this one; I would have missed a real beauty of a shot. I agree these are just about the toughest bird to expose correctly, and you nailed it. The water has an odd dark green color to it. Makes the bird really pop but I'm curious to know what the conditions were that resulted in that color.

  12. #12
    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Dix View Post
    I almost didn't click on this one; I would have missed a real beauty of a shot. I agree these are just about the toughest bird to expose correctly, and you nailed it. The water has an odd dark green color to it. Makes the bird really pop but I'm curious to know what the conditions were that resulted in that color.

    The way I was able to get so close was by pushing them up against the forested shoreline of a small cove. The green is a reflection of the trees, the tan comes from the sandy banks. There was quite a bit of wind
    so it mixed the two colors up nicely!

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