Hooded Merganser

[Karl Egressy]

The picture was taken in greater toronto area, called Humber Bay East.
We were shooting this duck with my wife about hundred feet apart. The duck was swimming back and forth between us giving great shooting opportunities for both of us. (Hers looks much better)

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1000
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO Speed 320
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
hand held standing up, there was no room to go down low.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Karl, love this bird. Seems like he was moving fast. A little subject shake. Loved the eye contact. A little CW rotation is needed IMO. In this kind of light, its almost impossible to get details in both whites and dark.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very nice pose, raised crest, reflection and BG. Another vote for CW rotation and toning down the whites. I would desaturate the blues of the whites that are not sunlit.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful crest, eye, composition and water color. CW rotation already noted. Might try just the slightest touch of selective sharpening to the eye.

[Karl Egressy]

Thanks for all the comments. Here is the ever so slightly improved version with the CW rotation (now I'm not sure if I did the rotation right) sharpening the eye, removing the blue and bringing out more details from the white.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Re-post looks very nice. Great color in the water and a great subject as well.

[Ray Rozema]

Repost does it. Beautiful color, detail and pose.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The repost is a good improvement. It needs even a bit more CW rotation. If you draw a line with the ruler tool from the pupil to the pupil in the reflection and then go to rotation and arbitrary you will get the right amount. I might also remove the blue on the chest of the reflection.

[Ofer Levy]

This is a lovely shot! Stunning BG and lovely refection. Light looks slightly harsh but you dealt with it beautifully.

[Kiran Poonacha]

one more vote for a bit more rotation, nice details, colours and reflection adds well, congrats..