I wish the sun was shining, since I prefer natural light over a flash (plus I am still learning how to use a flash effectively). I thought it was a little unique to capture this species out of water.
7D
300mm f/4 w/1.4 tc
480 EX w/better beamer
Manual Mode 1/200 at f/5.6
Auto ISO 125
Good-looking specimen, good eye contact, I like the raised tail and it does not look overflashed. Do you remember the flash setting you used? I might sharpen the bird a tad more.
Way cool with the snow and love those huge feet! Where was this? I have never know these birds to be very accepting... Flash looks fine and yes to a bit sharper.
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Very nice capture on land with snow in the BG which makes the bird standout. From my experience, you were really fortunate to get this close to a Merganser, specially on land.
I agree with the previous posters' comments and add that adjusting the shadows and highlights will bring out the detail in the head and feet. I been bold enough to take make some adjustments to your image, hope you don't mind. Besides the shadows/highlights I used the dodge tool to bring out the detail in the head and selective sharpening on the bird.
Overall good work Joe and thanks. The REDs are a bit overdone for me.
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Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Thanks Artie and Joe. Artie, this was taken on an old farmer's canal that flows into the Poudre River in Northern Colorado. I was using my car as a blind and and drive right along a stretch of about 1/2 mile. It was amazing that in this small stretch, I saw the following species of ducks.
Mallards
Wood Ducks
Northern Pintail
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Cinnamon Teal
Green Winged Teal
In addition it is the same locatioon I took my last post with the Great Blue Heron and a couple of Belted King Fisher also hang out there. That is a large number opf bird speices in a small spot in Colorado. Probably not too impressive for Florida though :D
Thanks Kurt, That would be a pretty good duck list for FLA!
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Common Merganser
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