Leaping Shoveler

[Indranil Sircar]

Since Denise announced the 1/8 sec theme week over a month ago, I have been trying to get images that might eventually be keepers! After lots of misses, I think I have few presentable ones and need your opinion if these are keepers. I found the shovelers are probably slowest as they leap off the water to get some interesting blur compared to when they are in full flight. The settings were -

7D, Sigma 50-500mm @ 500mm Hand held
1/8 sec, f/16 Mode: Tv Metering: Evaluative ISO: 200

Applied Denoise3 and used a layer mask to bring back the drake. Removed a shadow eye from the displaced blur outline. Applied usm on the final web version. Hope you like it. Your C&C will be appreciated...

[Arthur Morris]

Well done. You must have done a good job of panning to get the head so nice at 1/8 sec. A crop from the bottom would likely strengthen it.

[denise ippolito]

Indranil, Very cool blur. I like the details in the face and the colors are great. Agree w/ a small slice off the bottom.:)

[Indranil Sircar]

Artie, Denise, thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it a lot. Here is a repost with a different crop that takes the slice off the bottom. Is this better?

[Arthur Morris]

I like it ALOT better; not cropping from the front might yield another nice image.

[denise ippolito]

Nice repost Indranil. :)

[Indranil Sircar]

Thanks Artie for all the suggestions. Here is another version with the only the bottom off... (I do like this one better than the previous repost!)

[Christopher Miller]

Very nice, Indranil. Perfect amount of blur and detail,and has a wonderful sense of motion. Both reposts looks great. I do see a little noise in the wing area that I might remove. Well done. :)

[Indranil Sircar]

Very nice, Indranil. Perfect amount of blur and detail,and has a wonderful sense of motion. Both reposts looks great. I do see a little noise in the wing area that I might remove. Well done. :)

Hi Christopher, thanks. I did try to remove the noise but it was losing too much of the details. So I used a lower opacity while painting using the layer mask. I will try to change more and see if that comes out better.

[Arthur Morris]

Indranil, I like both of the reposts. The edge might go to your first repost :) Thanks for the various versions!

[Indranil Sircar]

Thanks Artie. Here is the final version after removing the noise as Christopher suggested...

[Christopher Miller]

Looks perfect, Indranil! :)

[Kora Baker]

Definitely a keeper, Indranil! Your last post looks great! Lovely work:)

[denise ippolito]

Beautifully done Indranil.:)

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hi Indranil,
These aren't as easy as they appear! Very nice feel and look to this and I prefer the crop in pane #7....noise rework in the last one was right on!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Love the dark moodiness in this Indranil - very nice!
Best,
Nicki

[Indranil Sircar]

Denise, Roman, Nicki, thanks for the comments. Appreciate it a lot.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Indranil, beautifully done. I love the bg as well as the shoveler - it is a really nice compliment.