Romance on the rocks?

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 VR @ 270mm. ISO 400. f/7.1 @ 1/2000s. Matrix metering @ -1.7 EV.

Captured this young Harlequin drake (1st winter, I'm guessing) and female at the Barnegat jetty on Tuesday. Light was still a bit too strong an hour and a half before sunset; not the perfect light for harlequins. Full-height, cropped from left to square format; cloned out part of another bird on right. C&C appreciated. Suggestions for a better title?

[Arthur Morris]

I like the juxtaposition of the subjects. To my eye, the birds look oversharpened. I like the two head angles. Good job with the EXP. That young male is too cool.

[Amy Marques]

I like the body and head angles of the ducks and how they are stacked on the rock but I find the large size and patterns of the perch a bit overwhelming. I'd like to suggest a little more head room above. Nice couple!

[Bill Dix]

I like the juxtaposition of the subjects. To my eye, the birds look oversharpened. I like the two head angles. Good job with the EXP. That young male is too cool.

Thanks Artie. I wasn't satisfied with several light passes of USM, so I added a few strokes of the selective sharpening tool around the eyes of both birds. Looking at it as posted, I agree that I should have left well enough alone. Appreciate the comments.

[Bill Dix]

I like the body and head angles of the ducks and how they are stacked on the rock but I find the large size and patterns of the perch a bit overwhelming. I'd like to suggest a little more head room above. Nice couple!

Thanks Amy. I didn't have any more canvas on top, but it wouldn't be too hard to add some. I'm usually not a fan of square crops anyway, and maybe converting this to slightly vertical would help give her some headroom.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bill, lovely poses from the two, and both with good HA's. Both in focus, and I feel a vertical will sort out your square crop.

[Grace Scalzo]

Great that you got them both in focus, Bill. My immediate reaction was "oversharpened" and I see that Artie thought that too. Add come room at top, and you've got a real keeper here.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very nice composition and I like their two poses and excellent eye contact on both. Already mentioned the USM. Thanks for sharing this with us Bill.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you Stuart, Grace and Judy. I'll go back to the master file and see if I can add some canvas on top, and go a little lighter on the USM next time around. One of these days I'll get the sharpening right. Thanks for the comments.