Eurasian wigeon
In with a bunch of American wigeons here in Halifax, NS recently (they're pretty regular).
Nikon D7000, 300 f/4 AF-S, 1.7TC. Some cropping, noise reduction, cleaning up a few marks in the water.
1/1000, f/6.7. ISO 320, -2/3EV.
Comments welcome,
Richard
Beautiful bird Richard and very nice to see on our side of the pond. Great detail in the feathers (seems like an example of why there's an anti-aliasing filter in digital cameras!). Regarding the crop I would have shaved some off the bottom and given a bit more room at the top.
Richard,
I really like this one, wish for more room seems a tad tight to me. The colors are fantastic and the water is stunning. Regarding the subject I might work the eye some to highlight the area, darken the pupil moreover try and make it more visible.
I like the tonal detail on the body and use of light. The subject's head could be sharper a couple of ideals to consider:
1. Higher ISO (especially on a Nikon) to get faster shutter and/or wider aperture
2. Panning technique
3. Were you braced and using a servo mode to support motion
4. Did you run NR on the body or mask
5. How large was the crop
6. Where was point of focus and were you using center sensor
I am not saying the picture lacks detail only enhanced detail would make it even stronger - well done. I love this species do you have more to share.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the comments. I seem to remember I was using shutter priority of 1/1000 and auto-ISO for that shot - I have that dialed into my U2 user setting, for birds moving or in flight, and (if I remember or have time) adjust the settings from that basic one. For stationary objects (faces, scenery, stationary birds) I generally use aperture priority. I have posted a few images at ISO1600 in the Avian forum, and generally have had comments that there was excessive noise. I can't remember if I was using a tripod at the time, or hand-held. I use AF-C with centre sensor and 9 point auto-focus. The crop was pretty large. I did selective sharpening on the bird, and selective noise reduction on the water.
Richard
Very nice Wigeon, Richard. I like how the light hits him lighting up his side and head. Great detail as well.
Hi Richard, always a treat to find one of these visitors from Siberia. We had one here in southern California recently and I was thrilled to see it. Imagine these little birds, flying thousands of miles each year, while the humans sit in their cars and wait for a parking place fifty feet closer to the health club.
The first two things that I see when looking at this image are the lack of detail in the eye (notice that the reflection has a highlight) and the angle of the bird relative to your camera's sensor. The eye can be fixed by adding a highlight and some contrast, but the duck is swimming away from you which is not the best situation. You did a really nice job in post with the noise reduction and cleanup of the water. Hope you get a chance to capture this one with a better shooting angle!
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson
Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com
Very well detailed capture Richard one of my favourite ducks thanks.
Hi Richard,
There are a few things about this wigeon that don't look quite right for a Eurasian Wigeon. I suspect that somewhere in its pedigree there may have been an American Wigeon.
Declan
Hi Declan,I agree with you,especially the green patch left of its eye.nice image.
Hi,
I thought the same thing, but some bird ID experts have told me that in certain lights, pure Eurasian wigeon can indeed exhibit this green coloration behind the eye. There's a lengthy discussion on this here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=163403.
Richard
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