Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Mallard x American Black Duck

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    345
    Threads
    132
    Thank You Posts

    Default Mallard x American Black Duck



    I have a few images of this guy not cleaning himself, but I thought this was a cool angle, at least the eye is still there. Shot lying on my stomach on the shore of a lake. The color of the water is from an overhanging willow tree, that's just starting to bloom. This is a clear cut Mallard and American Black Duck hybrid. Mixes of these two species like this can be pretty striking.

    Canon EOS 7D
    Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 L IS

    1/640
    f/5.6
    310 mm
    ISO 400
    +1/3 EV

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    2,173
    Threads
    219
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely preening pose, and the iridescent plumage is great. I might lighten the forehead a bit.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,439
    Threads
    47
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Ryan, I too like the preening pose and the colors of the bird. For my taste, there is a little too much out of focus (OOF) foreground. I considered a couple of alternative crops and the one I liked best removed about half of the OOF foreground and some off the left side (our left) so that the head/eye is located in the upper-left rule of thirds. Just my opinion and personal taste. Thanks for sharing as I have enjoyed your image.

  4. #4
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I am not sure of the clear-cut ID.... Good EXP and sharp but the head is turned away too much. And the green crown is too saturated...
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    345
    Threads
    132
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    I am not sure of the clear-cut ID.... Good EXP and sharp but the head is turned away too much. And the green crown is too saturated...
    Artie,

    Thanks for the feedback! I agree the crown looks hot, but is there a way the crown could have been oversaturated in-camera? I did not selectively saturate the crown, or increase the saturation on the bird much at all.

    What about this bird makes you unsure of an ABDU x Mallard Hybrid? If anything, it's a Mallard back-cross because it appears to have more mallard features.

    Here is another photo of it:


  6. #6
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Ryan,

    re:


    Thanks for the feedback! I agree the crown looks hot, but is there a way the crown could have been oversaturated in-camera?

    Yes. That happens a lot.

    I did not selectively saturate the crown, or increase the saturation on the bird much at all.

    Happens every day. Try this: go to Selective Color and add magenta to the greens or, apply a magenta Photo Filter at about 10 or 15%. After either of those you would not likely need to reduce the green SAT.

    What about this bird makes you unsure of an ABDU x Mallard Hybrid? If anything, it's a Mallard back-cross because it appears to have more mallard features.

    I am not very familiar with ABDU X MALL hybrids but when I have seen them they all had a distinctive look that made me think ABDU X MALL hybrid immediately. This bird does not have that look. I will copy the original post to Avian ID.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics