Canvasback Drake

[Gary Esman]

7D, f/5.6, 1/1250, iso:200

"If you have a classic side portrait from this session I would love to see you post it here for comparison." Here it is Artie, I hope you like. Had a hard time that evening. He kept diving and getting his bill wet and giving really strong reflections. Did not want to move since him and a few others had came in close.

Gary.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Well I like ... alot. The water drops are great, nice exposure on the whites and that eye ... nice

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Gary, Again an excellent exposure, a nice pose, and sharp but when their heads are wet they do not look such good..... For my 2 cents I'd lose every specular highlight on the bill and the face and see how it looks.

[Ofer Levy]

Excellent image! Sharp, well exposed in lovely light.

[dankearl]

Did you use flash fill? You didn't say, but the specs look like it.
Very nice photo but it would look better if they were minimized.

[Randy Stout]

Gary:
Excellent shooting angle again. Well exposed, sharp, great eye.

Agree about the specular reflections, are a bit distracting, even though completely natural.

Cheers

Randy

[Joe Senzatimore]

Fine detail and great exposure. Low angle works well. I am with the others on getting rid of the specular highlights. They tend to distract.

[Stu Bowie]

Great low perspective Gary, and I like your overall comp and space. Love the droplets, special eye, and I dont mind the highlights on the bill.

[Mital Patel]

Very pleasing image and you did well with this pose as well like you did in your last. Agree with some on specular highlights.

[Gary Esman]

Thanks Gary, Again an excellent exposure, a nice pose, and sharp but when their heads are wet they do not look such good..... For my 2 cents I'd lose every specular highlight on the bill and the face and see how it looks.

Will give that a try. Thanks and have a good trip to Alaska.

Gary.

[Gary Esman]

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions

Gary.

[Arthur Morris]

Will give that a try. Thanks and have a good trip to Alaska. Gary.

Thanks Gary. I'd go with my standard repair kit: start with the Patch Tool and the Spot Healing Brush with a few small Quick Masks for the toughest spots. That is one difficult bird to photograph.

[Josh Clark]

Nice side profile shot Gary. The uniform BG is nice, the water droplet add something to the image as well.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

very nice indeed....low angle, sharpness...excellent.

If mine, I'd do some curves work to make the water a bit brighter. You did the right thing by exposing for the whites...a midtone adjustment will improve it IMO. I do that almost all the time for shots of gulls, coots and shovellers in similar water.