What do you think about this image

[arash_hazeghi]

I am curious to hear what the folks think about this photo, I have mixed feelings



7D + 500 f/4 @ f/4 1/1600sec ISO 400. post: crop and rotate.

[Harshad Barve]

Arashbhai
This looks excellent to me , both birds are sharp , Nice BG and nearly indentical pose looks no nice
TFS

[Myer Bornstein]

Great shot getting both birds together I would not change anything

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Be nice to have the same quality to the front bird IMHO Arash. But pretty darn nice to have both woth great wingspreads and HA.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Arash

Would rather have the image without the front duck, the one on the back sure looks good with lots of detail, sharp and great look at the wing !!!

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Love the environment shown. Also like how the bird on the left is sharp with good details and nice landing pose too. Wish the bird on the right is as sharp as the one on the left, and wings are more separate from the body and head.

[Kerry Perkins]

Arash, agree with comments above which are also mixed. While the rear bird has excellent light on it, the front one has a different quality to it which is not as strong. It is an excellent capture of the pair, but would be much better if the front bird were as sharp and as well illuminated, IMO.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks guys for the comments, confirms my mixed feelings, it is interesting because in RAW the front bird is as sharp as the rear one the combination of light angle and position which is past the focal axis makes it appear less sharp, this is a very tight crop (about 20% of the original file) so I can't crop down to one bird only :D


Here is a larger version
http://ari1982.smugmug.com/Animals/S...902_GMPDW-A-LB

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Hi Arash. I'd go to a vertical crop, without the right bird, for several reasons. Compositionally having two main subjects is rarely successful; the viewer hasn't a clue on which to settle on. Having one main subject, and supporting elements works well, and an out of focus duck in the background might work.
The RAW image showing each duck equally sharp is puzzling as well. There is quite a bit more noise on the right duck, and perhaps this has an effect on apparent sharpness, and the lighting on the left duck was close to optimal, no so on the right duck.
My verdict: evict the right duck, go vertical, and you have a very good image! regards~Bill

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Arash, I like it as presented. Beautiful details and great action. Would not change a thing.
Congrats

[david cramer]

I like the image for the almost 3D quality to it, but if it were mine I wouldn't bother to print it. "Mixed feelings" generally means it's not a keeper to me, unless for sentimental reasons.

[Bill Dix]

Arash - great work capturing both with good wing position. That said, the LH bird does have better position and light, and I could easily have imagined a vert crop with only the left bird, if the file size had permitted it. I think Bill's point about two main subjects is a good one.