morning loon

[David Franzen]

This was shot at sunrise on a small lake in Phelps, WI from a small flat bottom boat using a tripod. Canon 40D, 300mm2.8 + 2x, AP f5.6, ISO 800, 1/125. This is shown full frame as shot.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great angle and water colors. I might try to bring out more details in the blacks, tone down the whites (using curves or S/H) a tad and sharpen more. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming!

[Alfred Forns]

Good looking bird David !!!

I like the low angle, pose and head angle Would like to see a little different crop This feels tight in frame If you want real tight then go for a vertical head image. Did not see the exposure comp but the whites are blown (easy to do with these birds) If made in RAW you should be able to do a regular/linear conversion and obtain detail.

btw from the boat might try going with less magnification Your 2.8 is very capable but the effective magnification is over 900 !!!!

[Doug Brown]

The low angle is great here David! So is the water color. Good points by Axel and Al regarding the whites, sharpness and framing. Thanks for posting!

[Arthur Morris]

Just a bit tight for me, and the head looks funky but I do like the water droplets. The BKGR is loverly. I am at a total loss trying to figure out where the light was coming from as the back of the head and the forehead both appear to be in shaded... IAC there are lots of blown highlights on the breast and, even though they look fine, on the back too. (See the posted image with the clipped whites on the right side of the histogram).

What are you using to convert your images? (Al's suggestion to start over with a darker conversion is a good one).

[Michael Bertelsen]

Wonderful image David,
As for Alfred and Arthur, I'm loving all these great tips.
Cheers, keep up the good work.

Michael Bertelsen