Northern Shoveler

Gallery: AvianPosted October 23, 2010148 views10 comments

Olympus E-3, 300mm x 2.0TC, tripod
f5.7, 1/320, ISO200, -0.7ev

A shot from this summer when water was still a liquid. Cropped to 75% of original, rotated slightly CW to level, selective sharpening. I found the reflected light made the whites tougher than usual, but I'm reasonably satisfied.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on October 23, 2010 at 6:15 AM

It looks a little dark on my monitor and I think a lower angle would be better but other than that a solid shot of this guy.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 23, 2010 at 6:47 AM

Well done! Excellent detail and control of the whites. BTW, it has been 80 degrees here, water is and will remain liquid, and the same tribe of ducks will be swimming in it!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 23, 2010 at 8:13 AM

A little dark but nice and sharp, with fine detail everywhere including the whites, JIm.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 23, 2010 at 9:41 AM

Jim,

I can relate to frozen/non-frozen water, it won't be long and things will ice up here, we are supposed to get snow in just a few days and that excites me.

I think you handled a challenging exposure well, I also have difficulties not blowing the whites in this species. I like the pose and how the long length of this bill shows well in this photo. Beautiful look at the eye too.I might consider cropping some of the bottom off of this image to a pano format, but that comp is just my personal taste.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 23, 2010 at 8:14 PM

I agree on the pano crop. I like them a little dark so it is perfect from my view.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on October 23, 2010 at 11:26 PM

Really like the texture of the water and the little bow wave of ripples.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on October 24, 2010 at 6:21 AM

Frozen water HA HA you can make tea from the water here ,HOT here and expecting 40 c tomorrow and next day.
Great colour and I like the reflection.That yellow dot(eye) in the middle really pops out

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 24, 2010 at 9:18 AM

Jim,
I'm still waiting for a shot of this nice species. Great detail and colors. I agree on the pano crop.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 24, 2010 at 4:52 PM

Great exposure - only nit is wanting a lower angle

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 24, 2010 at 9:19 PM

The whites are nearly always a challenge with this species Jim but I think they're fine here. IQ looks good and I like the reflection and nice blue of the water. I think I'd try Mia's pano suggestion.

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