My Last Wood Duck Post (Til Next Year)

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D4
500mm
Gitzo/Wimberley

1/1250 sec
ISO 400
f/5

SIck of em yet? Hope not. Working on this series for my newly hatched web site and thought I'd post this one I just processed. From the Chagrin, Ohio ponds in October. I liked this because it reminded me of a vintage rocking horse. I like the droplet of water on the head, and splash above tail. I placed it centrally compwise, felt it worked ok like that due to its stylized nature--wondering what others think. It's about a 40% crop. I brought exposure down a tad, lightened under wings, sharpened, recovered whites.

Thank you much in advance for any comments/critiques! And the happiest of holidays to all, with warmest wishes for a fantastic 2012. Thanks for all the support and learning here on BPN, it's just been terrific.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose details and sharpness well done!

[gail bisson]

Melissa,
You have saved the best for last! Love, love , love the pose. You are spot on when you liken the pose to a rocking horse. I like the blue/teal scalloped edge of the primary at the rear. Pardon the pun but "this image rocks"!
Gail
Wishing you a Merry Xmas and healthy and photography-filled New Year!

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks so much Gail and Arash. Yes, Gail, thought of naming it Rocking Wood Duck! Happiest of holidays to you too! Looking forward to photos from both of you in the year to come.

[Conrad Tan]

Terrific moment!

[Grace Scalzo]

Yet another beautiful wood duck image, Melissa. I've really enjoyed this series, this one perhaps most of all.

[Kim.K.K.Lam]

Excellent details,nice colors and love the shooting angle.

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent series and image Melissa! Congratulations on the new website, it looks great.

[Hayath Mohammed]

Very well done! The droplets add to the strong image.
The sharpness and color reproduction is commendable

Cheers,
Hayath

[Blake Cook]

Melissa,

This really is an excellent capture. I'll have to search out the rest of the series.

Merry Christmas,
Blake

[Sachin Saraf]

I think I will let go my desire to photograph this duck now...I can never make such image of this duck... What a lovely background on all of your images featuring wood duck loved them all TFS

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Jim, thank you for your kind words on my new web site.

[Sandesh R.Dhareshwar]

Superb image with great details and colours

[Ofer Levy]

Another beauty!! What a series!!!

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!! Excellent shot. Great timing, love the colors, great lighting, the detail is just wonderful, and well composed.
Well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Melissa, a fantastic series you have shared with us, and this one rates up there. Great IQ, light, colours and sharpness, and those droplets puts this over the top. If I had to say something non positive, maybe a touch too central.

A Merry Christmas to you too, and your website looks great. Congrats.

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks all, I really appreciate it. Thanks for your comment on my site, Stuart. It's a work in progress for sure, but at least it's up.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Girl you just knocked these shots out of the park. This pose is awesome and those flying perfect refractive drops. Wow. You should be proud of all these images. make sure to back them up!! LOL.

[Danny Laredo]

Sweet pose colors and detail.

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks Danny and Cheryl!