Mallard w/Landing Gear down

[Roman Kurywczak]

I got to meet Denise Ippolito yesterday (PS....go pay her a visit in OOTB....you know...the forums below AWF.....they are doing some very creative stuff that may give you a few ideas!) and spend some tome photographing a variety of birds. We were supposd to meet at 2pm.....and I was sitting in the snow....when I noticed it was around 2:30......so I called to see where she was.....a voice comes from behind me and to my right....."I'm right here"......talk about good stealth/photography ethics!!!.....I didn't hear her approach!
Got this guy yesterday a local NJ pond that was frozen over......so sat down next to the open water as the sun was going down behind us. Of course this happened after Denise left (Murphy's law)........and only had the time to rip off a few shots as the flock approached. Intruding wing tip removed in pp
Canon 1D Marklll with the Sigma 300-800mm lens at 356mm for 1/2500 sec at f6.3 and ISO 1000...did run some noise ninja on BG. Cropped slightly right and bootom to remove mallard off center

[Dave Mills]

Hey Roman...You nailed this one! Great wing position, beautiful light and nice placement in the frame. The mallards are in breeding plummage and look great this time of year. Very nice job!!

[Randy Stout]

Roman:
Dave hit most of the high points. I appreciate the nice catchlight in the eye, which really livens it up. On my screen, the duck could stand to be just a tad brighter.

If I move around, it get a faint halo around the entire bird, perhaps from sharpening. It is very subtle.

And, perhaps a bit more space for him, esp. top and bottom.

I love Mallards.

Randy

[denise ippolito]

Roman, Nice shot!! The open wings w/ landing gear down ,nice light-couldn't ask for more!
PS-It was nice to shoot with you yesterday!

[Roman Kurywczak]

Thanks all,
Hey Randy.....I do notice the halo today (was very tired yesterday with the 8 hours in the cold)......but I did all layers masks and only sharpened the mallard..........maybe I missed one....will have to re-do.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose and light. Details look good considering the high ISO. The S/H halo has been mentioned.

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely light and pose. I especially like the head attitude. Underwing details and flared tail are great.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Stunnnig pose and detail, lovely light and colors, great comp IMO ando good sharpness, IMO there´s a sharpening halo that could be easily removed. COngratulations!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Your timing was perfect Roman and a great head turn !!!!!! Agree with all of the above. Congratulations.