Wood Duck III

Gallery: AvianPosted October 20, 2010198 views12 comments

Lakewood WA. Last of the wood duck posts (maybe).

D3 ISO 800 300/2.8 with 2x tc f5.6 1/640 +0.7ev.

Many of you don't like head on images. This one has some shortcomings. DOF a little shallow. Needed the speed. Probably could have bumped the ISO to 1000. About 1 degree of head turn would have made it a better. But I really like the intricate symmetry of the duck's face and that can only be seen in a head on.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Sally King on October 20, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Excellent face first view of this colorful duck. You have held the whites in the face area expertly. Love how those red eyes just bore into you. Excellent detail. A bit more DOF would have been nice for the bill. Well done overall.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on October 20, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Angela,

My luck at close up images of woodies is dismal and I'd love to have this one in my files. I, too, really enjoy the symmetry of the duck's face and breast and the wather droplets on his back. The intricate feather detail of the head and breast add to the image as well. As always with these guys good exposure is a huge obstacle but you did well here. In general I'm not to excited about high key images and could wish for darker water and bg. I also agree that a slightly less "head on" orientation might be better. If you managed a series of this beauty I'd love to see more of them.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 20, 2010 at 9:37 PM

Very cool, Angela. I like the concept and the execution.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 20, 2010 at 10:14 PM

I find this very appealing. Yau nailed the eyes and chest area and that drew my attention not the DOF issues.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 20, 2010 at 10:39 PM

I like this a lot as posted. I take head-on shots whenever I can as they can be very interesting - especially with ducks. Plus, the image quality looks very good to me.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 20, 2010 at 11:11 PM

I really like this head on look Angela. The head is tack sharp. Very nice image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 20, 2010 at 11:22 PM

Excellent, I think the depth of field is fine as the head and breast are nice and sharp and in this position I don't think more dof adds anything. I like the head on view too, my favorite of the Wood Ducks that you've posted.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 21, 2010 at 10:11 AM

A terrific head on shot, love the excellent details n colors!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on October 21, 2010 at 3:21 PM

Angela, I really like this shot. Great detail and color where it is needed. I have been trying for awhile to get a shot of the male wood duck , that would be somewhere close the level you have taken-- no luck yet. Great job and I hope you post some more!

Ron

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 21, 2010 at 6:12 PM

This angle of view is great, Sweet photo Angela!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on October 21, 2010 at 6:17 PM

Wonderful sharpness. I love the rainbow of colors in the head feathers and the water droplets. Great job. I think perhaps the only thing that could bump this up would be better color in the water. The detail in the head, eyes and breast is great.

Julie

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on October 23, 2010 at 6:47 PM

Looks as if you were in the water with the duck. I agree that the head-on shot shows the unique symmetry. It's face is so perfect that it look fake. I generally don't like the head-on shots, but this one is different. Nice job.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments