Wood Duck

[Cheryl Flory]

OK, here I left more space. I like the branch reflection, but does that leave too much space at the bottom? What else do you suggest?

thanks!
Cheryl

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Cheryl Would look at the overall image first The placement of the duck is fine Does has a head turn close to parallel and pleasing bg

Now the perch is sort of overwhelming for the size of the duck and percentage in frame Did not see the teck info but have to guess the original was overexposed When you open the shadows you introduce noise Would first get the exp on the nose !!! You do have the point of focus in the right area but would like it sharper

I think you are making strides in all departments !!!!

[Cheryl Flory]

oops, I forgot the tech info
ISO 500
135 mm
1/125
f5.6
auto exposure
0.0 exposure correction

the top ridge of the beak was overexposed, but the rest of the bird looked exposed correctly. Part of the problem is that this is a 100% crop. I just couldn't get any closer than this with my lens.

How would I have set the camera to get a better exposed picture and a sharper picture?

[Cheryl Flory]

here is a reworked Wood Duck. Improvement? Or not? Too much log removed?

Cheryl

[Alfred Forns]

Log wise is better Cheryl Still lots of it It sort of dominates the scene Also the duck got darker Let me see what I can do !!!

Remember it all boils down to the original image Bg still noisy and duck dark Was able to make a some subtle changes and evict most of the log !!!

[Cheryl Flory]

how did you lighten the water especially, without bringing out the noise?

[Alfred Forns]

Cheryl there is away by working in LAB color After you master the normal processing techniques we might to into that space

The bottom line is to avid having to do the fix by nailing the histogram in camera !!!!

[Cheryl Flory]

(you mean I can't get away by saying it must be a defective lens??? :D )
man, oh man, you guys are tough! LOL
that's why this site is so helpful.

thank you. I love the information!
Cheryl