Plumed Whistling-Ducks

Gallery: AvianPosted August 3, 201085 views9 comments

These birds where part of a huge mob of Plumed Whistling-Ducks landing at an isolated stock dam in western Queensland.

Canon 7D, EF70-200 f/4 Is + 1.4 tc @ 280mm, handheld, ISO400, 1/2000, f/6.3, ec +2, several duck fragments intersecting frame digitally removed. Thought about removing the three overlapping birds at top centre, but left them in.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 3, 2010 at 6:37 PM

The different directions of all of these birds (all with feet and wings extended) is very appealing visually. I'd either clone out the top left one or add more canvas

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 3, 2010 at 8:39 PM

Love this Simon. This type of shot is harder to get than most people realize. Well done. I believe the formation of the birds and thus the overall composition may be better without the bird in the ULHC, but is certainly does not hurt the image if cloning out a whole bird would go against your editing ethics. A great shot overall.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 3, 2010 at 9:03 PM

I love images like this Simon, love the numbers of birds, the sky with the clouds and all the various poses. Really effective use of the dof. Well done.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 3, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Looks like a disorderly crowd, Simon. I like the composition.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 4, 2010 at 8:06 AM

Really like the inverted V Simon - I agree with Luke, maybe lose the top left hand bird??

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on August 4, 2010 at 8:42 AM

Nice one Simon, looks really chaotic. Funny how they hung around that particular isolated dam.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 4, 2010 at 6:13 PM

I agree with Ron B - these group flight shots are tough. I especially like the unruliness of all the flight postures and the mottled sky background Simon. It does seem slightly tight on top and left for my tastes. Fun shot.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 4, 2010 at 6:57 PM

Very cool shot Simon, quite a group landing shot. The bird on the left caught my eye as well as he's isolated and close to the edge of the frame, so I'd agree with taking him out.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 17, 2010 at 2:16 PM

Wow, duck air ballet - I love this shot!
(A bit tight in top left hand corner, though)

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments