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Thread: Canvasback

  1. #1
    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Default Canvasback

    My first decent image of this species! Though this water isn't true to my super smooth and minimal style, I really like this frame because of the complementary colors. This LA pond was full of other ducks and a water bubbler, so getting
    hella smooth water wasn't gonna happen, especially as there was a foot of air between the water and the concrete lip from which I was forced to shoot. As these guys are usually on open (i.e blue) water, I thought it was worth it to get
    something different. I particularly like how the shadowy surrounds allow the namesake back to pop. There was a ton of crop on water's surface, so I had to do some rather heavy-handed cloning clean-up to arrive at this result.

    Canon 600mm f/4 IS II on EOS 1DX2
    1/2500 at f/5.6, ISO 640
    Processed in LR CC with mentioned cloning

    Went 1.6 x 1 since he's long and low!

    Name:  canvasback in shadows 122620.jpg
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Size:  560.5 KB

  2. #2
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    Lovely image, I really cannot see how you could improve the image. I know you are a perfectionist but this is really nice. Wonderful color palette, crisp, sharp feather detail. 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

  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I like everything about it Dorian, except the heavy, black bill. I know you like to push the black & contrast, so just masking the bill brings out the lovely detail and form, offering great emphasis on the water droplet and the subtlety is just enough, not to stand out.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  4. #4
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Dorian .... a typically frame of yours !!
    Well executed with the perfect low POV . Nice realistic colors .Love the fine details and that " devil eye " !!!
    Slightly less denser blacks would help to show more detail .... but you like it that way , so your call .
    And understand your limitations in LR .... but bet there is a way to get this done in LR as well .

    TFS Andreas

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    Default

    Hi Dorian, i like the unusual colors complimenting the canvasback duck, lift of the blacks as suggested above on the bill would be nice but this is a fine image. Love the eye!

  6. #6
    Avian Moderator Brian Sump's Avatar
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    Dorian, you managed to get sweet light across the subject with minimal shadows and that's a great feat in itself.

    Personally I love the dramatic feel with the brown/golds, especially with the reds in the "back" of the head and the red eye pop.

    Comp is great and sharpness is fantastic. Only suggestion I could see would be reducing the impact of the black wake lines going into the head from right.

    Really well done [fistbump]

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    Nice. Love the light and that water. You brang out some nice detail on the back. Quite different from the blue water frames you usually see. Massive rafts of these and redheads are on the lake where I live. Too much hunting pressure though to get any decent frames.

  8. #8
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Very nice angle and HA and a great subject, I saw one just yesterday in the gorge, my first.
    I would clean up the water a bit more if it were mine, blend in the dark spots in front and one behind the bird.
    Blacks look fine to me....
    Dan Kearl

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    I like the low angle. IQ, details, complimentary BG and water off the bill and bubble below add to the image. Excellent image Dorian.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Thanks for the feedback. Several suggested changes incorporated into this repost. Went back to 1.5 x 1 for a bit more subject presence.

    Name:  canvasback in shadows 122620.jpg
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