Hooded Merganser

[Jon Saperia]

Taken with D700, Nikon 600 f4 with a 1.7 TC for 1000mm. Taken at f6.7, ISO 1600, Shutter 1600, EC -1.0. This was taken late this fall at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. I liked the color of the reflections and the shade/light let me get nice detail in the white in the head. Things that would make the picture better are: a lower angle (they moved through this area faster than I could lower the camera), a bit less wind so that the hood is not compressed at the top and a larger f-stop for a bit better overall DOF.

/jon

[Ian Cassell]

This is a beautiful bird, with beautiful light. I might consider cropping off some of the FG as I don't believe the reflection adds much to the image. I don't think additional DOF is necessary, as the muted BG colors are very pretty.

[jack williamson]

The colors are great, the bird looks good except I see some sort of blurring around the outline of the bird.

[John Chardine]

Superb colours and great exposure on my monitor Jon. I like the reflection as presented although it could be a little stronger. The main issue is head angle (I know this sounds like a broken record!). If the bird showed a small CW head turn past the point of being parallel with your sensor, this would take the image over the top for me. Maybe a tad more room to the right would be nice too.

[Jon Saperia]

Thanks all for the comments so far, the crop and head angle I definitely see. In terms of the blur seen around the bird, that may be the result of poor masking on my part during one of the post processing steps. I understand about the DOF comment and not wanting the BG to be in focus, but when I look at the image, the bill could be a bit more in focus. That of course would change had I managed to get a good head angle. :-)

[Johan Kruger]

very interesting looking bird, i like the eye especially

[John Chardine]

very interesting looking bird, i like the eye especially

Johan- We have a few birds in North America that can still "wow" a South African!!!

[Ben_Sadd]

I like the green and orange water. Beautiful. I would also keep the composition as it is. I feel the reflection adds enough and is better all there than partially.

To me it looks like there is quite a lot of noise in the black on the head. Am I right or is that feather detail?

[Jon Saperia]

I like the green and orange water. Beautiful. I would also keep the composition as it is. I feel the reflection adds enough and is better all there than partially.

To me it looks like there is quite a lot of noise in the black on the head. Am I right or is that feather detail?

Thanks. You are correct about the blacks. Not sure it is noise. It is a side effect of trying to lighten it too much - in any event it does look odd.

[Ben_Sadd]

Did you open up the exposure much during conversion?

[Jon Saperia]

Did you open up the exposure much during conversion?

Not too much because a global opening would have blown the whites out I really liked the detail in the whites in the head. That is why I tried a localized lightening of the neck. I saw the effect and posted anyway. I think in hindsight I should have left well enough alone.
/jon

[pat lillich]

Jon, the colors and detail in both the whites and blacks are all wonderful. I like the reflection in the orange water, but can feel a wish for more above. wonderful photo!

[Johan Kruger]

Johan- We have a few birds in North America that can still "wow" a South African!!!

thats funny :) I might just come have a look for myself sometime

[Richard Unsworth]

:)

The colors in this are wonderful.

I am pleased to see the high ISO being used to such wonderful effect, noting your SS was 1/1600
and at 1000mm the reason is obvious, was this handheld?

[Jon Saperia]

:)

The colors in this are wonderful.

I am pleased to see the high ISO being used to such wonderful effect, noting your SS was 1/1600
and at 1000mm the reason is obvious, was this handheld?

Thank you - often I shoot at a 1250/second but will increase if I am attempting/hoping for some action such as when the birds preen and flap after going under water. In this case I had not moved the SS back - I sometimes forget in the excitement of the moment.

This was not hand held - I do not try to hand hold my set up very often, especially with the 1.7 TC on as it was, because my percent of in focus shots goes down so much. The set up is just too heavy for me to use for any length of time that way. :-)

/jon