Hooded Merganser

[Phil Ertel]

This is an image of a Hooded Merganser was captured at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in North Carolina. The image was made on Friday October 10th on an over cast morning at 10:11AM.

This image was processed in ACR and represent about ¾ of full frame. I boosted the contrast with curves and added a touch of black to neutrals and blacks in selective colors. The eye was processed per Robert OToole’s APTATS. I selectively ran noise reduction on the background and boosted the color just a little..

Thanks for looking and of course any critiques.

Regards,

Phil

Camera: 40D
Lens: Canon EF500mm f/4 IS USM
Exposure: 1/250s at f/9.0
Exposure Compensation: 0
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
ISO: 800
Flash: did not fired
tripod

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Phil,
Great composition, image and capture. you have good details in the blacks, and the background compliments your duck. You display good head angle and good eye contact. Recommendation...you need to selective sharpen the eye just a tad; its fuzzy because the focal point was not on the eye, it appears to be at the base of the bill...besides this, you have a beautiful image...congrats...looking forward to seeing more of your creations...:cool:

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Excellent capture Phil. You have an awesome background, very sharp and well exposed image. Only nit is that I think that is a little tight in the frame. Overall a beautiful capture.
Congrats,

[Alfred Forns]

Fine looking duck !!! Really like the highlight detail One tough bird to expose

[denise ippolito]

Phil, Great job! Alfred's not kidding he is very difficult to get a good exposure on. I think you did a great job- agree w/ Oscar it feels alittle tight- but just alitttle. Very nice.

[Julie Kenward]

Agree with the other comments - it does feel a little tight in the frame and the eye could use a little sharpening but, otherwise, I think you did an outstanding job! You got a lot of detail throughout the bird and he looks marvelous!

[Phil Ertel]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestion. I have added a bit of canvas to the front top and a tiny bit at the back. I worked on the eye some more.

Is this enough added space to make the feel less tight?
The eye is now about as good as it gets. Is it good enough or is this image head toward the dust bin?

Thanks again. I find all of your comments very helpful and educational.

Regards,

Phil

[Julie Kenward]

I think the eye looks MUCH better now but I'd give it a small bit more on the side where his tail is. Good work!