Angel Wings

[Morkel Erasmus]

Created this image yesterday at our local pond. I really like the pose, wing blur and colours and would really like your input. I specifically chose this comp due to the wing position.

It's a yellow-billed duck.

Canon 1000D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
f7.1 @ 1/500 SS @ ISO 400

[James Salywoda]

Love it Morkel very nice direct view of the wing flap background looks great to.

[Randy Stout]

Morkel:

Very nice composition, I feel it does fit the subject very well. Nice colors, BG, and I do like the angle of the head.

I think the wing blur is fine, I do feel the body/head of the duck isn't quite critically sharp, perhaps a bit of motion blur there as well. In a perfect world, you might have pushed up the ISO a bit to get a little more SS flexibility, although I do suspect you wanted to blur the wings. I don't know your camera, so perhaps noise is a concern at higher ISOs. It is a difficult balance, to blur the wings, but get everything else razor sharp.

Thanks for sharing.

Randy

PS: Morkel, was this much of a crop?

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the comments Randy & James.

Randy - this is about only 35-40% cropped off. I hear what you're saying. I could have stopped down for ISO-800, even @ ISO 1600 the 1000D handles it well if you overexpose slightly and ambient light is good. This pose happened so quickly that I just took what I got and didn't think about ISO or SS

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

The catchlight in the eye seems a little big, but I don't feel that the head area is not sharp enough. Could be the compression? Seems OK though. The wings' position and blur are wonderful though the image feels a little tight for me, especially above. :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose and the tight crop works well for me. You could selectively sharpen the chest a bit more.

[DanWalters]

I really like the wings and the golden light. Nice low angle as well.

[Arthur Morris]

Love the wing flap. The head and breast are relatively sharp--a nice 20-75-0 contrast mask would really make it look better.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks very much for viewing and commenting Artie, Akos, Dan & Axel.
I knew the tight crop would be a point of personal preference for many.

Here is a repost with Artie's advice followed on the contrast mask.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

That looks way better dude! :)

[Dave Barnes]

The repost does look a lot better. I like the tight comp here.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Akos & Dave! :)

[Stu Bowie]

Very well timed Morkel, to capture perfect symmetry. I like the angle of the head, and sharp where it counts. Great capture. Which local pond are you referring too?

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Stu! this would be our local pond in Secunda (where I got that sublime heron-caught-against-the-sunset photo ;))

[Kobus Tollig]

You did great here. Like the repost. Great wing pose well done

[Chris Kotze]

Super pose and colours. The repost look great

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Kobus & Chris!

[Jeni Williams]

The repost does it Morkel, Well done on getting that pose.