Just back and processing images from vierra wetlands. Got lucky and found a dead duck lying in shade. So I moved it to better light (4ft) and within minutes the Caracaras were on it.
This (and a pair shot I will post tomorrow) are my favourites. There is (just) data in the neck highlight.
A nice sharp image that looks well framed with good DOF. The neck is just a little too hot for me however as it distracts me somewhat. The eye has a reflection catchlight off the front of your lens, but I am not sure if it would look better with or without this.....
Hi Stuart - lots to like here - but agree the neck is a little hot and does tend to draw the eye straight to it.
Pose, Eye contact, action and composition are all good.
Like it.
Stuart, agree with the others on the exposure issue but wanted to say that I like your choice of aperture - good focus where you need it and a nice drop off where you dont. Well done!
Thanks for your replies. Fixed the hot spot on the neck. It was indeed taking the eye away. The catchlight was in fact the morning sun just appearing over my left shoulder, not a reflection from the lens. It is a harsh catchlight but decided to leave it.
Stuart, Wow, really like this killer image. Congrats I say. I was at Viera a month ago and I wish I had a "dead duck!" natural causes of course. Whoa, what an experience that must have been. Tell us more. Was it a coot? Looking forward to your next post. beautiful.
It was definatley some sort of black duck. We were second car in and took the short cut. My wife (and photo assistant) spotted a small black something in the shade by the side of the road. I have Jims Canoe Creek Road site guide and in this he mentions moving roadkill to safe positions and sit back and wait. Grabbed the duck by the foot and moved it to the other side of the road into better light but not very far in case something wanted its kill back.
I just managed to set the tripod down when a shadow passed over my head. I looked up to see one Caracara land on the kill, then another.
We first came to Florida last year and didn't even see a Caracara, so this was a very special moment and one I'll re-live many times in my head back home in the UK.
Don't want to sound like an ad but, the site guides from Birds as Art were worth their weight in gold.
crested caracara
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