Wood Duck

[Chuck Brittain]

I need to know what would have made this photo better....besides better equipment
20D, EF 75-300 IS, 1/200th, ISO 800, f/11 handheld

[Doug West]

First, don't worry about your equipment. It's more about how the photographer
uses what he has.

My first suggestion is to get lower (if possible) the next time. The more you're
at eye level the better.

Doug

[Dan Brown]

Hi Chubri. A lower angle would be great. Your equipment is ok but I would suggest using a tripod if you can.
I have reposted your nice shot of the Wood Duck with a few photoshop adjustments that I think have improved it's presentation. I adjusted the gray point with a levels layer, upped the saturation with a hue/saturation layer, adjusted the blacks and grays with a selective color layer, adjusted the highlights with shadow/highlights filter and finally, softened the BG with Noise Ninja (a PS plugin add-on).

[Chris Hansen]

Chubri,
I wholeheartedly agree with Doug. Waterfowl usually look more natural when photographed as close to water level as possible. Try lying on the ground next to the water using a ground pod, bean bag or a rolled up shirt or coat.You could get right in there and use a float tube providing the water is safe. Whatever you do have fun.

chris

[SeanKP]

Agree about the lower angle. A wider aperture would have given you a smaller DOF too which would have softened that background naturally. Good job by Dan with his repost.

Cheers.

Sean

[Joanna Trescott]

Hey, I shoot with a 20D! You captured the beautiful colors of this duck. I think the repost really brings out the good qualities of your photo.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Welcome to BPN Chubri (1st post!!). You chose a beautiful subject to present us. Lower angle if possible, wider aperture, focus on the eye (instead of flanks), and some fill-flash to open up the blacks would all be good things to consider next time out. Thanks for posting, and looking forward to more :-)

[Doug Brown]

Welcome to BPN Chubri! Excellent suggestions from everyone. Wood Ducks present some exposure challenges; protecting the whites usually requires a little negative EC. I agree about a lower angle and a smaller aperture. With an IS lens and a reasonable amount of light, I tend not to use a tripod for shots like this; I like the freedom of movement that you get when hand holding. This photo looks plenty sharp.

[Chris Hansen]

Chubri,
If you decide to get into waterfowl photography in a big way check out my Blog
http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot....ng-blinds.html
I have been doing this off and on over the years and it is a fun way to get really close to waterfowl, turtles and shorebirds. I have literally bumped into logs turtles are sitting on. So if you are adventurous, in reasonably good shape and have a safe place to do it, give it a try.
God's light and love your way,

Chris

[Chuck Brittain]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I went back this afternoon but the Wood Ducks were hanging way too far out....but I did try this Mallard from a lower angle. More like what we want or still not quite there?