Pintail wing flap

[Bill Dix]

Brigantine, last month. I know this has some flaws, but I still liked it and figured I'd post. Reflection isn't clear enough to warrant inclusion, but the pose of the bird seemed to want a vertical comp. Don't know what to do about the high ISO noise. C&C appreciated.

D90 | 500f4 + 1.4x | ISO 1250 | 1/1600s @ f/8 | +0.7 EV

[Randy Stout]

Bill:
The flap position is great, full extension, but can see both wings, like the tail up a bit, nice neck extension.

I appreciate your choice of a vertical comp, but because of the weak reflection and the horizontal extension of the wings, I would do a least a version in a landscape format as well. As posted, it needs a bit more room in front of the bird.

At the posted size, the noise isn't too bad, and would rather have a little noise and more detail.

If you go horizontal and the bird size increases in the frame, could become more of an issue.

Cheers

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Bill, good points from Randy, and I would just add that I would crop off at least half from the bottom, and change to a horizontal crop.

[Greg Basco]

Hi, Bill. I agree with Randy and Stuart that a horizontal would be a stronger presentation for this image. You have great stuff going on with the bird but, as you mentioned, the reflection just doesn't seem to add much.

Nice job with exposure, detail, and timing.

Cheers,
Greg Basco

[Bill Dix]

Thanks guys. Here's the landscape version.

[denise ippolito]

Bill, I like the repost. Excellent image for Brigantine-not any easy location. Nice sharp details and head angle, beautiful flap captured.

[Bill Dix]

Bill, I like the repost. Excellent image for Brigantine-not any easy location. Nice sharp details and head angle, beautiful flap captured.

Thank you Denise. I love Brigantine for the feeling of the place, and the variety of waterfowl. But you're right - it's tough to get low to the water in most places without spooking the birds.

[Marina Scarr]

The moment I saw the thumbnail, I knew this needed to be in horizontal. You did a great job getting the pintail well exposed, exhibiting some great behavior in not so great light. The repost works very well.

[Paul Guris]

I like the re-post as well. Great stand-up pose.

In addition to the angle problem at Brigantine, I'm finding that there are a lot more walkers than there used to be, at least on the weekends when I can go. The birds are obviously more skittish of them than they are of cars. This past weekend we had to give up on photos in one stretch of the dike because a walker with camera and tripod pushed every duck out of the channel next to the dike. They didn't flush, just added 50-100 yards to their distance. Each time we'd go past a ways, he'd eventually catch up and push the birds out.