American Wigeon drake close-up

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

40D. 400 f5.6 at f/7.1. iso400. 1/800s. on bean bag. exp. comp +1 to expose to right and then pulled back a little in DPP. Cropped a bit but not a whole lot. I tried a tighter crop from the right side but didn't like those feathers getting cut. I dont go too low on ISO and try to maintain high SS because they are always swimming about and turn their head a lot.

I love these ducks. They are very used to people letting me explore lot of different angles and such. Their call has to be one of the best in the duck world. Glad to get one finally with open beak at close distance.

[John Chardine]

And I'm a big fan of these images Kaustubh! Love the intimate protrait and the action and low angle. I wonder if you could crop a bit from the right! A few degrees of head angle towards you would have been nice!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Kaustubh, another good low angle, and well done on getting the open beak. I like the overall light and colours.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great close-up Kaustubh! I like the detail you captured in the open beak area.

[Myer Bornstein]

I agree with Jim a great C/U

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super detail, I appreciate composition is a personal thing but I would prefer a little tighter - head and neck and a little shoulder or the whole duck:)

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Here is a tighter crop. did some quick work. Is this better?

[Myer Bornstein]

I like both personal preference

[Jonathan Ashton]

I think the tighter crop is better, I would even be tempted to take a further inch and a half off:)

[Dave Leroy]

Really nice and sharp and good job on the wet water high lights on the bird.

Since the bird is so low in the water, my preference is the longer look of the first post.

[denise ippolito]

Kaustubh, Beautiful sharp details and the open mouth makes this special. I like the repost with a tiny sliver off the bottom. Very nicely done.

[vikrant kane]

Love the portrait and the open beak position