This nice redhead drake was imaged before the sun cleared the horizon last weekend. I was using the SB800 with the beamer for most of the light. Water was pretty still.
D700 600VR 1.4 TC f/6.3 1/320s ISO 1000 Gitzo/Wimberley SB800 with Beamer
Post: Selective sharpening slight rotation, added a sliver of canvas to right, cleaned up the red eye, cleaned up a ripple in the head reflection. No noise reduction.
The pupil was quite large because of the low light. I didn't enlarge it at all in post, just took care of the red eye and the bottom catch light. I wonder if it looks too big, even though it was natural?
As always, advice and comments appreciated.
Cheers
Randy
Last edited by Randy Stout; 03-21-2012 at 09:41 AM.
"Waterduck amidst pure background with perfect reflection" is a style of waterfowl photography and this photo is a perfect example. I think you did a terrific job...this is a most appealing look at one of our lovelier ducks. I'm particularly impressed about the flash situation and red-eye clean-up...
A beautiful bird. I think the eye looks great except the dead center catchlight. It might look better slightly off center (maybe up and to the right a little?).
Hi Randy, your flashwork is so subtle, but it has brought out this handsome fellow very well. Evenly distributed throughout the image, and it also shows up the reflection nicely. The sharpness on the finer plumage is spot on, as is the colour on his head. Just love the pastel blue of the water too. Great work.
Randy, beautiful portrait. Perfect choice of shooting angle to get the clean reflection. Flash work looks very good. If mine, I'd try to make the head a bit warmer and the blacks a bit deeper. loved the calm water..something I rarely get here in windy N Texas.
Kevin, I appreciate your take on the catch light, and it would be any easy change.
KD - funny about the blacks. Such a balance between too dark with no detail, or too light but with more detail. In looking at it again, I do see your point. The bill tip looks very black to me, while the breast and tail are lighter. I will try a little tweak of that.
Dashed off a version with +6 moving black point slider to right in curves, and +10 on saturation slider in CS5. Fairly subtle, but an interesting variant. Somehow it doesn't look quite as soft as the original.
WoW!!! Beautiful image. Love the calm feel of this image. Great shooting angle, superb flash work, great detail, and I personally like the repost.
Very well done.
Pre Dawn Red Head - Flash is my friend
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