Male Wood Duck- first post

Gallery: AvianPosted February 5, 2010409 views24 comments

I am new to NPN and this my first post in the Avian Gallery.
I was photographing fall color in Cuyahoga valley N.P. when I remembered a friend had told me about this place near Cleveland where I can find woodies.
So I change plans and went looking for it.I knew had found it when I came around the corner of the pond and there were 40 photograhers with big guns lining the waters edge.Had a blast!!! Both with the woodies and meeting some very nice people.

This image was captured in early morning overcast light.Some cloning
was done to remove acouple of hot stops in the B.G.
I hope I prepared this image properly for this forum.Let me know.
I'm here to improve my skills so honest feedback well always be appreciated.I have a 4 shot series of the wood ducks I like to show.
Would that be over kill if I showed them in secession.
Thanks
Joe

Canon 50D
500mm
f/6.3
1/400sec
ISO 400

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on February 5, 2010 at 7:46 AM

Unusual pose and great detail. The brilliant colors are really showcased with the spreading of the feathers. A bit centered, but think it works well here. Can't wait to see the rest in the series.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 5, 2010 at 8:31 AM

Welcome Joe, great first post. A little too centered for some tastes, more room would be preferred in front of the duck, but a fine image with amazing colour !
Looking forward to seeing more !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 5, 2010 at 8:40 AM

A fantastic pose and I love the colour of the water! Great first post and a warm welcome! I would definitely "move" the duck to the right of the frame, if this were mine. 40 photographers? Yikes!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 5, 2010 at 9:42 AM

Welcome and I like your first post. This already colorful species is enhanced by the spread wing. I would address the crop with more room on the right. But even as is, well done.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 5, 2010 at 10:17 AM

Hi and welcome! Such wonderful colors here and the wing out pose is killer. I do wish for a bit more of a head turn towards us (that would probably show his crest, too) and I would tone down the highlights in the water just below the bird. Great first post, though, and I look forward to more! 4 in a row....eye candy for all of us! Go for it. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 5, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Hi Joe: Welcome. You captured nice detail in the wood duck on a nice pond. The composition is the biggest issue for me. The bird needs to be more to the right with room on the left. Highlights in the foreground are a bit bright as well. Keep 'em coming.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 5, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Welcome to NPN Joe. I aree with others about it being too centered, but love the pose. nice colors also

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Darren McKenna on February 5, 2010 at 11:27 AM

This is a beautiful image, only wish he had turned towards the camera a tad more. Excellent detail and pose.

darrenmckenna.com

Registered on October 28, 2008, 31 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 5, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Welcome to NPN Avian, Joe. Great first post. Terrific capture with the primaries on the wing at full extension. I agree with the others that you need to pull down the glare in the foreground water. You might try and pull a little detail out in the whites on the neck as well. Others have mentioned that the comp is too centered. Overall, though, a first rate first post.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on February 5, 2010 at 12:24 PM

I love the pose. A little centers. Great shot. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on February 5, 2010 at 12:54 PM

What beautiful colors. I like the centered position, and the background. Wonderful job.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on February 5, 2010 at 12:58 PM

Nice technicals as well,wonderful position!
Congrats :István
Hungary

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Paratore on February 5, 2010 at 1:09 PM

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and suggestions.

Definitely agree to off centered. I’ll work on composing in camera first for off center composition if not. I will then crop.

Jim, can you explain how to pull out a little in whites on the neck. Thanks Joe

Registered on January 31, 2007, 40 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 5, 2010 at 4:28 PM

Welcome from me too Joe. I agree with all the comments you've had so far. Looking forward to seeing more from you.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on February 5, 2010 at 4:32 PM

I also agaree with the comment but still a very nice first post.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 5, 2010 at 7:26 PM

Joe,

Nice to "meet" you, looking forward to seeing more of your wood duck images.

I like the great pose you captured, the colors in the bird and the water. I agree more space in front of the bird would make a stronger comp, and to my eye this appears to need a touch of clockwise rotation.

A fine first post.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 5, 2010 at 8:50 PM

Welcome Joe. I agree with the consensus here, esp regarding comp but you've got a fine image to work with.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 5, 2010 at 10:14 PM

Beautiful first post. Great pose of such a beauty

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 5, 2010 at 10:58 PM

Welcome Joe, neat pose, I'd take a bit off the right, looking forward to seeing more of your wood duck shots.

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

Comment posted by Jay Martin on February 5, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Great shot Joe - I love the wing sread. If you're going to crop I'd also rotate the shot CW to line up the reflections with the wing tips. By the way, I have family near Cleveland any chance you can divulge the spot. Email would be fine

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Mustar on February 5, 2010 at 11:05 PM

Well Joe for your first post it is a beauty! My only nit pick would be that it is too centered. The bird should have a little bit more room in front compared to the back. But if you like it in the center a square format realy seems to work sometimes. Also I notice a nice reflection of its wing in the water. If you could have gotten a vertical composition with a full reflection this would be a masterpiece.

Registered on January 1, 2010, 13 Posts, 24 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 6, 2010 at 6:22 PM

Sweet first post Joe

Great color in the duck and background, the wing stretch makes it for me! My only nit has been mentioned.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 6, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Nice one Joe - great detail and an interesting pose. I'd possibly give it a little more room in front. 40 bird photographers in the one place????? - there wouldn't be that many 500- 600mm lenses in Australia!

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 7, 2010 at 12:04 AM

Sweet shot, Joe. Lovely colors and wing stretch. I think this needs a slight CW rotation. I agree that placing the bird a bit to the right would enhance the composition.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments