Common Merganser Flight

[Bonnie Block]

I was exploring a quiet backwater in Tumwater, Wa. and found a fair number of Common Mergansers. Only had the 100-400 with me so catching them in lower light in flight was a bit tricky. :)
Canon 7D 100-400/L IS
1/1250s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso1250

[Tony Whitehead]

Well done, Bonnie. Lovely and sharp and the light reflecting up off the water gives good fill on the underparts. I think some CCW rotation is in order.

[Harshad Barve]

Excellent image , I liked expression on face very much here
TFS

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Bonnie: You don't see too many flight shots like this at such a low angle. Nice job. I'd say about a degree of CCW rotation would make it extra sweet. Thanks again - I love mergansers!

[Bonnie Block]

Thanks, guys! I had already rotated this image quite a bit--but I guess it needs one more hit.
I am terrible at horizons!!!

[John Blumenkamp]

Hi Bonnie... this is great! Love the low angle as mentioned by others. As a fellow 7D user, what AF mode were you using... single point, w/ expansion, etc?

[Tony Whitehead]

Thanks, guys! I had already rotated this image quite a bit--but I guess it needs one more hit.
I am terrible at horizons!!!

Try the ruler tool and drag a line so that is is parallel with the ripples then go to Image/Image rotation/arbitrary.

[Bonnie Block]

Try the ruler tool and drag a line so that is is parallel with the ripples then go to Image/Image rotation/arbitrary.

Thanks, Tony! I'll give that a try.:) The horizon line is one of the most criticised points in my images. So I struggle a little with it at times.

[Bonnie Block]

Hi Bonnie... this is great! Love the low angle as mentioned by others. As a fellow 7D user, what AF mode were you using... single point, w/ expansion, etc?

Hi John,
Thanks! I was using the spot AF on this. I find that my best results are either with spot or single point. I have not had much luck with any expansion or zones, especially if there is any more detailed bg--as in this image.
I love the 7D, though. I have not even taken my MKIII out since I aquired the 7D.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bonnie, great low flying capture, and love how the wing tip is touching the water. Good detail from the underwing, and I would maybe selectively sharpen the head a little.

[arash_hazeghi]

Beautiful image, the key points are low flight angle, good HA and eye contact and the left wing almost touching water!!! well done. I would also sharpen the head and eye a bit more. Was the focus point on the shoulder?

[Danny Laredo]

Sweet low angle flight shot Bonnie. Another vote for sharpenning the head/eye a bit more.

[Jim Fenton]

Love the flight pose and the low angle.

I think the 5.6 aperture hurt you as your focus is shrap on the shoulder but the DOF appears not to have captured the head.

I might blur the background a tad.