Wood Duck Extended

[Phil Ertel]

This image was made on Friday October 24th on an over cast morning at 10:21AM.

This image was processed in ACR. I added canvas to the right, left, and top as I thought that out of the camera the bird was a bit tight in frame. Added a little contrast (curves) and toned the whites down a bit (linear burn).

Thanks for looking and of course any critiques.

Regards,

Phil

Camera: 40D
Lens: Canon EF500mm f/4 IS USM
Exposure: 1/125s at f/5.0
Exposure Compensation: 0
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
ISO: 400
Flash: Did not fire.
Tripod

[Oscar Zangroniz]

One fine detailed image Phil. Excellent colors, very sharp, great background, and I think that by adding the canvas has made it stronger in composition.
Big Congrats

[denise ippolito]

Hi Phil, Great shot I love the pose, Excellent!!! Just wondering was this wild or captive? If wild are they frequent visitors by your neck of the woods.

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Denise, FIrst thanks for the kind comments. Second, I am sorry; I should have mentioned in my post that this is a captive duck. There are some wild Wood Ducks around but I didn't have the time or patience to go looking for them on Friday.

I haven’t had a lot of luck finding willing subjects to pose. Therefore, to make the best use of my time I went to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park. It is a target rich environment (lots of chances to practice). I am trying to push my comfort zone by trying to create some blurs and zoom blurs. As to those results, lets just say I won’t be posting any of those anything soon. And thanks goodness for the delete button.

Thanks again for your comments (and of course thanks to Oscar's also)! Hopefully work will lighten up a bit and I will have the time to contribute more by providing feedback to you and other posters.

Regards,

Phil

[Gail Spitler]

Phil
From my position this is one terrific image. Look at those feet! I don't think I ever notice Wood Duck feet before.
Really well done. Congrats
Gail

[Glenn Romain]

Wow look at that webbed foot,you truly have a great capture Phil .Colors are great and you have very good sharpness and detail. Well done :)

[Lance Peters]

Gorgeous colours - wonderfully sharp and a great pose. Love the painted fell to this.
no nits - well done. :)

[Desmond Chan]

This is excellent ! Good colors, good sharpness, good exposure !!!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Phil This is a sensory overload type image !!! Totally love it !!!

[Harold Davis]

one of the better wood duck images i have ever seen!! very artful!! big time congrats, phil!!! i will have to visit this place next time i'm home.

[Gus Cobos]

Phil, congratulations...excellent composition, image and capture. The details and soft colors are superb...I like the wing stretch...very well done...proud of you...:cool:

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Phil:

Wonderful capture, lovely vibrant colors, only today I was talking with a friend that I would love to photograph a Wood Duck, not too much chance around here. In the meantime I will drool over your lovely one.

Thanks for sharing.

Uncle Gus

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Beautiful Phil. Love the painterly feel and the colours of the BG. Very lovely quality to the light and good exposure!