Swan Goose Hiding

[Michelle C. Battista]

I was in Utah sometime in Dec. I was on my way to Antelope Island, when I got lost which is a good thing for me, because while driving I came across a small pond. When I pulled over I saw this guy. I had no idea what it was. After I got home I did some research, and found out it's a swan goose. He is also called a chinese goose and is a domestic goose. All I wanted to do was get a picture of him, so the back of him is blown out. Thought he would be fun to see and can't what for the critiques.

D3, f9.5, s350, iso 200, -2 lens 200-400 vr4.0, with 1.4x used a gitzo tripod

MCB

[Lance Peters]

Hi - for my personal tastes - a bit too much space all around - could crop a little tighter, also bird feels a litttle soft.

I have made a couple of changes - selectively sharpened the bird and cropped differently - any improvement??
:)

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Michelle,
I like the capture, but there is too much negative space all around the bird...Mr. Peters' repost is much better. I would crop just a tad tighter and open up the mid-tones...looking forward to your next one...:cool:

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Michelle:

Nice bird, Serendipity a wonderous moment that you took advantage of. I agree with too much space and bird soft, however, for my particular taste I would like a bit more room than crop.

Thanks for sharing

Uncle Gus

[Michelle C. Battista]

Thanks for all the great info, and I really love the changes, I though it should be a tighter shot t, so I tried to crop him last night tighter but I guess at 2 in mourning my brain was in no function mode. I like that you can really see his eye much better. I'm trying to under stand the balances of when its ok to have the picture a little lighter verses darker. I know I 'll get with every ones help. I love to learn. So thanks again, for the time you have taken to help me out.

MCB

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Michelle Agree with comments and can add you have options regarding the whites.

Lots of things can be done regarding the whites. The simplest would be in LightRoom It has a slider for recovering hot areas and it works. There are also procedures while converting from RAW and in PhotoShop itself, would suggest to hang on to images that look fine except for a questionable are since in little time you will learn to deal with them.

As presented I would like seeing more of the head for that preening pose, the eyes are the most dominant part usually and should be visible. Glad you stopped and worked the bird !!!