Canvasback

[Paul Kusmin]

Hi, went out yesterday and spent a few hours trying to get some shots of a Canvasback at a local pond.

D300 + 500mm AFS-I f4 + TC-17EII 1.7x
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/6.7
Focal Length: 850 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Flash: No Flash

C&C appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

[Tony Whitehead]

Good low angle and water sheen on the bird. I might crop a little from below to lower the bird in the frame. Love that red eye.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Paul Lovely image Like the low angle !!

Would like to see a slight crop from top and bottom, did well with exposure but need softer light. Hope you can find him again early or overcast !!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

EXCELENTE! I JUST LOVED THIS ONE! Congratulations!

[Randy Stout]

Paul:

I really like canvas backs, and have taken a lot of their pictures at the local bird santuary. I find it is very easy to toast the whites on the back. I usually find I need to be minus EV to preserve them (D300 also).

I really like the water on the bird, particularly the drop on the tip of the primaries.

There is a thin dark line along the top of the bill where it meets the skull. I am not sure what that is from.

Randy

[Paul Kusmin]

thanks for the comments everyone, I had originally cropped this a bit closer but since I always seem to crop too close I left a bit more in this time, I agree however about trimming top and bottom a bit.
Randy, I just noticed the thin dark line you mentioned,
It's got to be some sheen off the mud or something, wonder if I should clone it out or leave it as is?

[Randy Stout]

Paul:

re: the line. Since no one else commented on it, it obviously isn't too objectionable, but if it were mine I would take a pass at it. Did you do any highlight recovery on the back whites?

Randy

[Paul Kusmin]

Hi Randy, I didn't do too much but I did do a Shadow/Highlight adjustment in PS.