Hardhead in black water

[Paul Randall]

Hardhead (Aythya australis)

This unfortunately named duck was captured paddling in and out of shafts of light on the edge of a dark, shaded pond at Newport Lakes in Melbourne's west.
This is one of the first "black water" images I have been able to make. The conditions/situation does'nt show itself very often unfortunately.

All comments, reposts etc welcome :D Paul

Canon 5D 400mm f5.6 L iso 320 1/500th f5.6 Spot metering -2/3, handheld
Photoshop- cloned out a few small bits of debris on the water, slight sharpen of face and dodge of bill tip

[Andreas Lentfer]

Hi Paul,
not bad for a first try! I would like slightly more light on head and bill and a lower perspective.
Regards
Andreas.

[Eric Diller]

Hi Paul,
not bad for a first try! I would like slightly more light on head and bill and a lower perspective.
Regards
Andreas.

agree....nice capture thou!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

It looks so real that it seems as is going out of the frame. Love the eye contact and the mysterious mood.

[Arthur Morris]

Spot metered off what??? As much as I love the perfect EXP, the SH, and the way cool duck, BKGR, and mood, I wish that the bird had been swimming in the opposite direction so that the head was set against the lighter water. All in all, very well done and very loverly.

[Paul Randall]

Thanks all:D

Spot metered off what???

This is pretty much full frame so I would have spot metered the neck area. Original is slightly darker than this, so -2/3 was probably a bit much.

I wish that the bird had been swimming in the opposite direction so that the head was set against the lighter water.

Agreed, the bill and bill tip are a bit lost in the BG unfortunately.:(

I would like slightly more light on head and bill and a lower perspective.

More light on the head would have helped with the bill and bill tip too. Not sure a lower angle would have helped much, also the bank behind the bird was lit up a bit and I wanted to keep the black water look.
Thanks everyone for looking and commenting;)