Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Preening Wood Duck

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default Preening Wood Duck

    I spent yesterday afternoon at the Zoo with Troy Lim and his friend Mark. Unfortunately it was one of those rare New Mexico days where the light was mediocre at best. We still had a good time. Here's a photo of a preening Wood Duck that I liked. Cropped from horizontal. It's a little unconventional, so I'm interested in your opinions!

    Name:  20101206-_V5C6019-Wood-Duck-5x7.jpg
Views: 187
Size:  191.0 KB

    Canon 1D Mark IV, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 400, manual exposure, hand held
    Upcoming Workshops: Bosque del Apache 2019, Ecuador 2020 (details coming soon)
    Website -
    Facebook - 500px

  2. #2
    Danny J Brown
    Guest

    Default

    Doug,

    I like this image as the colors are rich and realistic. You didn't try to bring out the shadows as to wash out the bird; you just let them ride as you likely saw the fella at the location. The eye is especially nice on this wood duck as it isn't glowing to a blur, but instead perfectly sharp. The deep purple on the head fades into the dark bokeh and that is fine....I like it. I also like the weird chromish strata of the background as it lends an art quality to the shot. Finally, I have to say that I like the beautiful bronzish color in the lower right corner that you just captured in this comp. Nice, candid pose here as well. Good one, DB.

    DB

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I love this image. The lines of the white draw the eye upward and compliment the deep rich colors of the duck. Beautifully done!
    Nancy

  4. #4
    pietipeppie
    Guest

    Default

    Interesting photo, but photos taken at the zoo are not really my favorite. Naturally when you do not always have time to think about everything, but in the zoo everything you can often playback.

    The picture itself is fine and the composition good.

    ppie
    www.ppie.net

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    FYI these are wild birds, not captives.
    Upcoming Workshops: Bosque del Apache 2019, Ecuador 2020 (details coming soon)
    Website -
    Facebook - 500px

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Southern Africa
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    91
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Doug ,

    Unusual but compelling image with again that spectacular combination of colours. I like the colour management and detail. The swirls on the water add to a very artistic image.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    CA Central Coast
    Posts
    311
    Threads
    25
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A great collection of curves. The more I look the more I see. And many intertwine like a yin/yang symbol.

  8. #8
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug:

    An unusual crop with very nice result. Like the side lighting which helps show more texture than you often see in the whites with full frontal lighting.

    I do believe the original is too dark, and something between your post and Peter's repost would be nice. I tend to prefer darker images than most, but the original could stand 1/4 to 1/3 more stop of exposure.

    Cheers

    Randy

  9. #9
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for the valuable feedback. I like the idea of brightening the bird a little. This is +0.38 stops on just the bird. What do you think about this version?

    Name:  20101206-_V5C6019-Wood-Duck-5x7.jpg
Views: 94
Size:  189.2 KB
    Upcoming Workshops: Bosque del Apache 2019, Ecuador 2020 (details coming soon)
    Website -
    Facebook - 500px

  10. #10
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug, I like your repost. I really like the shape of the head, and with the preening behaviour, it shows off the curvature nicely. You seem to have mastered the colours on these guys, and they are very striking and varied.

  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    479
    Threads
    46
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I absolutely love the background and I think the repost is very pleasing. The colours of the bird are expressed beautifully in this image. I think the crop is spot on, suits the flow of the bird.:)

  12. #12
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Blooming Grove, NY
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Repost does it for me - love the colors and pose. Eye is just perfectly in focus.

    Charles

  13. #13
    Lifetime Member James Salywoda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    H. Bch. California
    Posts
    2,860
    Threads
    315
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like your repost Doug it sure was the added punch well captured.

  14. #14
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Bangalore, Karnataka
    Posts
    3,800
    Threads
    236
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I really like the repost Doug Bhai... beautiful colors indeed...

  15. #15
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    I really like this one Doug! The pose and sharpness are great. The repost is nice.

  16. #16
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    11,879
    Threads
    917
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by denise ippolito View Post
    I really like this one Doug! The pose and sharpness are great. The repost is nice.
    Thanks Denise! Does this image qualify for OOTB? :)
    Upcoming Workshops: Bosque del Apache 2019, Ecuador 2020 (details coming soon)
    Website -
    Facebook - 500px

  17. #17
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    Of course it does Doug!!:)

  18. #18
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Sarasota, Florida, United States
    Posts
    3,522
    Threads
    475
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Doug, you are killing me with your duck shots. :)
    It was an honor to meet up and shoot with you this trip. We will do it again, either in NM or FL.
    I like the repost. Great moment captured.

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