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Backwards Glance Mallard
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Backwards Glance Mallard

by Jerry Austin

Gallery: AvianPosted January 3, 2015126 views7 comments
I liked the over the shoulder look this drake gave me. I also liked the water color and texture. Processed using Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC 2014. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 200-400 f4 L IS
f7.1
1/1250s
ISO 640
Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter Engaged)

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 3, 2015 at 11:38 PM
Very nice, Jerry. A good capture and nice colors. If it were mine, I might have bumped the aperture up to f11 or so and sacrificed some shutter speed to get the tail a bit sharper.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 4, 2015 at 1:02 AM
Jerry,
Lovely photo. This image portrays a lot of emotion and feeling that touch a visceral part of us. Great work. :toast:
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 4, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Hi Jerry,

The drake is giving you the eye :toast: . Great pose and composition........................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM
I like the pose this guy gave you a lot. Nice head angle and the water is very complimentary.
Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on January 4, 2015 at 6:14 PM
Hi Jerry! Great look you've got from this mallard drake here. I really like the 3/4 pose and head turn into the light. I suppose Jim's point is valid re a little more DOF, but it didn't bother me upon viewing. I do find the head a bit off by...something! I know...not too helpful: I want to say soft but I'm not sure it is. Did you hold the highlights on the green channel on the exposure? My very best guess on a third look at the larger version is the focus may be slightly in front of the eye (like on the shoulder?) as the beak is extremely sharp but slightly less so by the point of intersection with the head and the eye itself doesn't have your normal sharpness to my view. Just worth a second look IMO as I really like the image...perhaps you have a sequence where this is resolved on one? Or perhaps I'm still adjusting to my new "computer" (intermediate range) glasses. :cool:
Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on January 4, 2015 at 9:32 PM
Hey Jerry,
You nailed the framing on this shot. Would not change a thing. The color of the water is very appealing as well. The 3/4 over the shoulder look is awesome and you appear to have nailed the exposure and have good iridescence on the head with a slight reflection in the water. I do see some softness in the eye. I think John's comment had that right although he was not sure. It's just slightly soft so you can probably do a quick touch up on it that might help a little bit. You've certainly captured a super nice image Jerry.
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 5, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Hi Jerry :wavey: Why say more , when David expressed my thoughts perfectly.. :eek: :jump: :eek: except that words cannot express the look this drake gave you :toast:

Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments