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Thread: Hooded Merganser Upright

  1. #1
    thomasryan
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    Default Hooded Merganser Upright

    Here’s a winter visitor I found at one of our local park ponds. A member of the “Diving Ducks” group, she spent most of her time underwater while I watched and waited for a picture.
    Thanks for looking...tom

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    Tom- You've done a nice job of capturing this moment. The wing position is ideal. The water droplets add interest. The bird is sharp, particularly the beautiful eye, which is so important to a great image. I might wish for a slight CCW rotation of the head so that the bird is a bit more face on. I'd give the bird more room at the top and a little less at the bottom.

    Up here in Canada we have another 4 months before we see birds like this!

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Chardine View Post
    I might wish for a slight CCW rotation of the head so that the bird is a bit more face on.
    John, I agree with your critique but I'm not sure what you mean here. I do agree for a CCW rotation - but to level the horizon of the complete image (everything is tilted down towards the bottom right. Won't change the head angle :).

    Thomas, I also like the shadow of the primaries cutting across the belly.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Lovely posture captured in this Thomas, and I really like the colours on the duck. I would just add a bit of space on top. Well captured.

  5. #5
    thomasryan
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Chardine View Post
    Tom- You've done a nice job of capturing this moment. The wing position is ideal. The water droplets add interest. The bird is sharp, particularly the beautiful eye, which is so important to a great image. I might wish for a slight CCW rotation of the head so that the bird is a bit more face on. I'd give the bird more room at the top and a little less at the bottom.

    Up here in Canada we have another 4 months before we see birds like this!
    Hello John,
    I agree, the top is a little tight and the horizon should be straight. Here's a 2 degree cc rotation and some additional canvas at the top.
    Thanks for the input..tom


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    Good repost Tom.

    Sorry Daniel, what I meant was that if the bird turned its head a bit CCW the head angle would have been better- more face on. Nothing can be done in this image, just a wish for another exposure! Sorry for the confusion.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    I like that the bird is out of the water and flapping but would have liked to have seen the bird's right wing more swept back. Sharpening the face and brightening the eye would add impact.
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