Ruddy Duck

[Ed Vatza]

North Shore (NJ)

Canon 50D; 300mm f/2.8L IS w/ 2x TC; tripod-mounted

1/500 sec @ f/7.1; ISO 400; -1/3 EV

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Ed: My friends always ask me if I've ever photographed a ruddy and here one is. Unfortunately its not mine. You've captured it in its classic pose with the little tail and the big shovel beak a little open and it looks like he is looking right back at you. It wouldn't hurt to be a tad sharper and the cheek is a little warm on my screen. Center composition doesn't bother me on this one. Nice work. Thanks for sharing.

[Doug Brown]

Great pose Ed! I'd like to see this image posted in a larger size to make critiquing a little easier. I agree with both of Danny's suggestions.

[Ed Vatza]

Thanks guys. I guess I need to calibrate this iMac. I get the "warm" comment more often than I should and I don't see it here on my monitor. Regarding sharpness, that is a bit of a puzzler. The top of the head does not look as sharp as the rest of the image to me. I assumed possibly because it is wet but not sure there.

Again thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.