Little duckling, all alone...

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi everyone,
I went to the Slimbridge Wetlands yesterday and was surprised to see so many ducklings in mid August...could it be something to do with the wet weather??...:(
Anyway, here is one of them - he was just like a naughty little child, constantly swimming away from his mother, who got really quite irritated with him. It certainly brought back memories!!!...:)
BTW, regarding the competition that I mentioned yesterday - when I checked the rules more closely I discovered that no 'enhancing' is allowed - only cropping! I thought, wot, no sharpening???...:eek: I suppose that they want the competition to be open to everyone, not just people with posh expensive cameras, which is a good thing. However, I don't want to put out anything but my best work - so I decided not to enter. Have I made the right decision? What would you do?? But anyway, thank you all so much for your messages of support - it really means a lot to me. I shall carry them over till the next time...:cool:
40D 100-400 @ 400mm
ISO 640
AV F8 1/500 sec
Poor light
Look forward to your comments and suggestions!
Best regards to all,
Nicki

[Alfred Forns]

HI Nicki would have entered, your work is very good, no question.

Would check further into the rules since only cropping makes no sense. You have to convert the image and in the conversion there are lots of things that can be done, no different than developing film. What makes sense to restrict is heavy manipulation and there is the problem .... what is heavy manipulation?

I like the feel of this one very much but would rather see a different placement, centered doesn't look right.

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi Nicki,I had thought of going into this competition last year until I read...

"WWT also reserves the right to use all submitted photographs in promotional material for the charity and on retail products sold for the sole benefit of the charity."

...notice they can use ALL submitted material not just WINNING material, I know its a charity (of which I was a member) but to me its just a way of getting free publicity material :(

Tell

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Al,
Many thanks for your suggestions. I think that the reason I positioned the duckling in the middle of the picture was to increase his sense of isolation. Do you like the repost better - was sorely tempted to have him swimming out of the frame, but knew what you would have to say about that one - probably at least 20 lashes...:eek::D
I will email the competition organisers but I guess they are looking for more of a mass market entry and are encouraging people with point and shoot cameras to participate, thus no processing required!
Regards,
Nicki

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Tell,
You are right - I hadn't actually picked up on that although I do remember reading it somewhere in the blurb...:(
Where is your nearest wetland centre? I am think of doing a trip to the wash and North Norfolk fairly soon - what are the prospects like at the moment?
Regards,
Nicki

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi Nicki, actually my nearest is Welney which is probably the one you mention near the wash/Norfolk. I always go between end of October and end of March as my main aim is to photograph flying Whooper/Bewick swans so I am not sure whats around at the moment but probably not that much. I am obviously not sure if you have been to Welney before so I will assume not, Welney is completely different from Slimbridge, there is no Duck collection and you will only be able to photograph from hides so there is no walking around shooting this and that like at Slimbridge, but you will get very good sunsets if you are lucky. Having said that I prefer Welney for flight shots because I find Slimbridge very difficult to get good backgrounds.

Hope that helps, have a look on Google Earth and I think you will see the differences straight away.

Tell

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Tell,
Many thanks for the info on Welney. I have never been there although I spent many happy childhood holidays in East Anglia, hanging out in hides with my parents!! I must admit that I was hoping to do some shore bird photography in the area. Is there much around at the moment and where would be the best places to go?? I know what you mean about the BG's at Slimbridge - not much here either at the moment..
Regards,
Nicki
PS I hope the moderators don't mind all this being in the thread - sorry!!!...:)

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi Niki, again for Shore birds you really need to wait until October/November and there will be thousands on the Norfolk coast....

Snettisham - RSPB - "Enjoy one of the country's greatest wildlife spectacles at Snettisham, when especially high tides force thousands upon thousands of birds to leave the mudflats where they feed, and settle close to the hides overlooking the lagoons."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hucdujXvDPk

Hunstanton - Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers
Salthouse, Cley, infact all along that part of the coast but Salthouse is good.

Lady Ann's Drive (opposite Holkham Hall) - thousands of Pink Footed Geese

Pensthorpe Near Fakenham - where this years Spring Watch was from.

Although quite a bit further north, if you get to Donna Nook (near Mablethorpe) between November and January you will see Grey Seals and their pups only a couple of feet away. This is a RAF bombing range during the week so you are kept behind low fences but very easy for photography, week end you can get out to the shore line but EVERY ONE goes weekend so its PACKED, I only go weekdays which does cut your oppurtunities down but I do not like crowds :)

Hope that helps :)

Tell

PS google the above for more info :)

PPS a 500mm lens is beneficial at some of these places

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Many thanks Tell!!

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Lady Nicki,
I like your high key image, the only thing that I would do to your cropped repost is to give the little guy a wee bit more room for his tail to grow...:):p:D Just open it up just a tad. Congrats, I like it...keep them coming...:cool:

[Lance Peters]

Hi Nicki - also like the last repost - but do agree with gus a little more room at the tail end.

Hows my Puffins :)

[Bruce Gove]

Agree with Gus and Lance, Nicki. Little guy needs a little more tail feather room!! Otherwise like the image very much..

[Desmond Chan]

Nicki, imo, you just have to crop a bit from the right and that will do. The ripples will still be there and the little ducky will no longer be centered.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Thanks for for comments and suggestions guys - I will definitely rework the little chap so that his tail has room to grow...:cool::)

[Cindy Crawford]

This is very sweet-agree with the statement below, but otherwise, love the mood of the photo. Is this a color photo desaturated?

Cindy

Nicki, imo, you just have to crop a bit from the right and that will do. The ripples will still be there and the little ducky will no longer be centered.

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great feel to the photo Nicki. I like it as presented on your re post. Congrats

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Cindy,
Yes, I took the photo in colour, desaturated, then added a sepia tint. I also tweaked it in levels to give the water a more high-key feel. Glad you liked it!
Regards,
Nicki