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Thread: Drake Woodie

  1. #1
    Danny J Brown
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    Default Drake Woodie

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    I had 34 woodies on my little pond every morning for a few weeks so I set my blind up for a nice close-up. The front edge of the fella's beak is pretty bright but I often see a mirror effect on that part of a duck's beak and my eye sees it the same way as the camera. Comp-wise, I could have gone several ways but I decided to go vertical and show the distorted reflection. The blacks are a bit shadowy but I like them as posted. The green stuff is duck weed, on which the whole crew was gorging every morning. Thanks!

    Canon 40D; Canon 500/4; 1/250; f/5.6; ISO 200; EC=0; Gitzo GT3530LS/Wimberley II; Trekker T-100 Blind

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Danny:

    Excellent exposure for a notoriously tricky fellow to expose. Good shooting angle, sharp, esp. the eye which often seems a bit soft, even when everything around it is sharp.

    In a perfect world, would prefer the bill not merge with the body. I might consider removing the highlights on the bill tip.

    A beauty for sure, and what a treat to have so many, so close!

    Show us some more!

    Randy

  3. #3
    Danny J Brown
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    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Danny:

    Excellent exposure for a notoriously tricky fellow to expose. Good shooting angle, sharp, esp. the eye which often seems a bit soft, even when everything around it is sharp.

    In a perfect world, would prefer the bill not merge with the body. I might consider removing the highlights on the bill tip.

    A beauty for sure, and what a treat to have so many, so close!

    Show us some more!

    Randy
    Thanks Randy -- I'll share a shot of one of the females in a few days as I received more feedback in my Nature Blog on her than on the drakes.

    DB

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    I like it all as it is, what a great image, what I like most is the pose

    Quote Originally Posted by Danny J Brown View Post
    I had 34 woodies on my little pond every morning for a few weeks so I set my blind up for a nice close-up. The front edge of the fella's beak is pretty bright but I often see a mirror effect on that part of a duck's beak and my eye sees it the same way as the camera. Comp-wise, I could have gone several ways but I decided to go vertical and show the distorted reflection. The blacks are a bit shadowy but I like them as posted. The green stuff is duck weed, on which the whole crew was gorging every morning. Thanks!

    Canon 40D; Canon 500/4; 1/250; f/5.6; ISO 200; EC=0; Gitzo GT3530LS/Wimberley II; Trekker T-100 Blind

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    I think the composition works well Danny. Sharpness looks good, although I think I see a halo around the bird's head. Exposure is tough on Woodies as you know. I think the problem here is that only the bird's head is in the sun; it's pretty much impossible to get good detail in the darks if they're not illuminated by the sun.
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  6. #6
    Danny J Brown
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Brown View Post
    I think the composition works well Danny. Sharpness looks good, although I think I see a halo around the bird's head. Exposure is tough on Woodies as you know. I think the problem here is that only the bird's head is in the sun; it's pretty much impossible to get good detail in the darks if they're not illuminated by the sun.
    Thanks Doug and you are absolutely right about exposure. Also, woodies are very angelic ducks, hence the halo.:)

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    Very nice Danny. These birds are so over-the-top on range of color - but beautiful to say the least. I love the color of the water. I would wish for a smoother reflection but I can't say I have a better suggestion for composition. Strangely, the highlights if the water (duckweed?) look blue on my (calibrated) monitor. Maybe I need a re-calibration!

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    Very nice, love the pose and especially the blue in the back. Sharp and whites look great! TFS

    Gary.

  9. #9
    Danny J Brown
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Busby View Post
    Very nice Danny. These birds are so over-the-top on range of color - but beautiful to say the least. I love the color of the water. I would wish for a smoother reflection but I can't say I have a better suggestion for composition. Strangely, the highlights if the water (duckweed?) look blue on my (calibrated) monitor. Maybe I need a re-calibration!
    Same thing on my monitor so don't change yours. Duckweed reflects color in a strange way sometimes. All good!

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    I've never actually seen one of these birds in the wild, Danny. Images of them always look fake to me -- and beautiful . . . "angelic", you say.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    These ducks do have a variety of colours, and you have brought them out nicely. Good exposure, sharp, and I like your comp. Pity some of the weed is obscuring part of the reflection. As these are in your backyard;), Im sure you will have plenty of opportunities to capture a whole lot more.

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    I like the comp and I have allways marvelled at the colours of these birds and they show well in your image.TFS.

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    Danny, this shot is admirable, as is Randy's analysis. Building the blind and getting that exposure right are particularly commendable. You went to some trouble, and it was worth it.

  14. #14
    Lifetime Member James Salywoda's Avatar
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    Excellent low angle I love the pose captured and beautiful bg.... Well Done Danny!!!!

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    A beauty Danny! The comp works for me and I love the colors in the water including the duckweed which adds an interesting element IMHO!

  16. #16
    Danny J Brown
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    Thanks to everybody for the thoughtful comments and suggestions. Sometimes I forget that a common species that I frequently photograph in Missouri is uncommon or non-existent elsewhere.

    DB

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    Nice colors and low angle view, a great picture.

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