Feb Theme: Eye level ring necked duck hen

[Randy Stout]

I thought I had better get with it and post a eye level shot. Taken at Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida, when out with Daniel and Roman. Lots of fun

D300 600 f/5 1/1600s ISO 500 Gitzo/Wimberley - flat on ground with right angled finder

Post: Selective sharpening, minor crop for comp.

Slightly bigger in the frame than I usually post, but I thought it played up the eye level feel.

Thoughts and advice always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Ofer Levy]

Excellent low angle, sharp with awesome detail. Would get rid of the second catchlight. A bit too big in the frame for my taste. I also think you could have used slower SS for this action and get some more DOF for the tip of the beak.

[Charles Scheffold]

Love the low angle! Beautiful details - all the more reason to keep it big in the frame. DoF is fine IMHO. I think it might benefit from a tiny bit of CCW rotation though.

thanks
Charles

[Alan Murphy]

Very nice Randy. Love the detail and low angle and the head angle.

[Gary Esman]

Looks like that 600 is cooking! Love how the water fades into oblivion just behind the little girl. Need to figure how to get lower at KBS.

Gary.

[Daniel Cadieux]

These guys sure were fun to photograph, especially that they don't allow close approach up here (unless one considers 100 yards to be close!)

I don't mind the second catchlight as it comes from the reflecting water, but there is a third spec in the eye that could go. There are also 3-4 other small white specs on the plumage that I would look into removing. Other than that this is a fine, fine image...even if the subject as rather big ion the frame.

[denise ippolito]

Randy, Beautiful image and low angle. I agree it's a little tight but I'd love to have this one in my files.

[Ryan Schain]

I love the low angle and I agree about losing the second catchlight

[Sid Garige]

On your face image Randy. Like it.

[Pieter de Waal]

Super low angle Randy with beautiful detail on the head. I like the tight crop in this instance, suits the pose.

[thijs broekkamp]

Nice close portrait!

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Yes, a bit big in the frame as I mentioned in my introduction, but I thought it played well to emphasize the eye level, in your face feel. Most of the space I cropped was to the left, and I didn't like the comp. that way as well. Should have done a better job in camera!

Cheers

Randy

[arash_hazeghi]

Very nice, I agree with Ofer's comments.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Randy, you know I love images of this type. Loved the light here. agree abt cleaning up the eye. Fine with tightness. Judging by the techs, doesn't look like the light was very bright. Very well done.

[James Salywoda]

Stunning low angle and a beautiful shot Randy.