Thanks to the duckweed, I like this one because it shows the entire "fly-by" hunting technique in one frame. This beauty started from favorite hunting perch to the right. Flew out to the spotted prey (with low flight, you can see the dragging feet trail in the duckweed). Then the big splash with circular wake is where the feet went in as the splash ahead is where the bill simultaneously dipped for the prey. Then this beauty powered out, just hitting the water (that's a trailing duckweed splash behind the feet) while headed back to perch on the right. I know the HA is not ideal, but I like the story told. 1DMKIIN 400DO ISO 500 F5.6@1/3200
One heck of a good story told David. Crop suits it. Lovely details in the whites too, and only thing I would consider is cloning the oof green above the head.
David, Very interesting story and image, Gives you a nice visual of how they have to hunt in hard to see through water. Whites look great and you can see the green of the duckweed reflecting of its chest. A little less sharpening on the head would improve this as the beak looks a little pixelated. I'm sure you can't see it on the larger original image.
As Peter, the same thing happend to me about comp, but after reading the story behind it, it kinda wrks for me. Nice light, and detail. I do think it could use some CW rotation.
Congratulatons!
The pattern in the duckweed really shows his path, well captured, I also like the light, exposure control and pose. A better head angle would have put it over the top.
I like your choice of composition, given that the trail is showing.
The color of the duckweed looks a little strange as if it had cyan on it? I remember it more yellow and lighter.
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