Log Lady

Gallery: AvianPosted March 6, 2011123 views18 comments

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ,
Date: January 28, 2011
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC14E (1.4x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
ISO 400, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/400th @ f/8, -1/3rd ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 88% of full frame

Sorry: I couldn't resist the reference to Twin Peaks with my title.

I rarely take the 2x off my 300/2.8 since my avian subjects are typically so small and hard to get within camera range, but this Mallard cooperated by resting on the log near the pond edge where I was sitting out in the open.

As always: Not baited.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please view the larger version if possible.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 6, 2011 at 6:20 PM

A joy to look at Rich. Wonderfully subtle colors and light, excellent composition, I really like the log perch and the pose of the mallard fits it all perfectly. Very, very nice!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 6, 2011 at 6:57 PM

Beautiful homologous colors, she looks very attractive balanced on the log.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 6, 2011 at 6:59 PM

Very nice complimentary background colors and nice detail in the duck. Overall nice image Rich.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on March 6, 2011 at 8:07 PM

The composition, subject and colors marry together beautifully!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 6, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Sweet light. Great comp. and detail.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 6, 2011 at 9:30 PM

beautiful, Rich. love the light, the comp, the color on the water, the pose, and the DOF. I'd consider taking a small amount off the bottom (maybe half of what is below the lowest part of the log) because the reflection at lower left is a little distracting to my eye--an odd combination of horizontals and verticals that don't flow well with the more natural contours of the rest of the image for me. also the little blue spot on the left side of the patch of yellow water beneath the log (and possibly the even smaller one on the right side) looks a little out of keeping with the other colors in the image, so I'd consider a very small clone job. very minor things on a really beautiful image, though.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM

This is so nice! I wish I had been sittin' there with you! Great comp and colors. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 7, 2011 at 3:02 AM

Great light, Rich ! Very nice pose and detail of the Mallard. Good job.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 7, 2011 at 4:48 AM

Lovely low angle and light Richard. Wonderful image quality

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM

Hi Rich... I really like your overall comp here, as well as the head turn and great light on the background water.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 7, 2011 at 3:58 PM

Super. You nailed the techs and the comp is great. Like the log perch a lot.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on March 7, 2011 at 5:32 PM

Well composed. Everthing nice and sharp, and as good a looking Malard as I've seen. This is the perfect pose to show off the markings of this lady.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on March 7, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Gorgeous colors, perch, nice head turn. A common duck made into a beautiful photo.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 7, 2011 at 9:30 PM

Great warm colors and beautifully composed, Richard. That old log makes a great perch. Very nice image.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 8, 2011 at 8:45 PM

It's a very nicely presented image! I particularly like the colours.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 10, 2011 at 12:14 AM

I really like the compositon on this one along with the colors. The log, partial log reflections and the golden water make this image of a farily common duck into something very pleasing to look at, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 11, 2011 at 7:12 PM

This image makes even the lowly mallard a real star, Richard. The colors and sharpness are really outstanding. Lovely comp too.

P.S.: Good idea to remove the 2X. Some of us would never have thought of that....

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 11, 2011 at 8:34 PM

Very nice Richard. I like the waters gold color, the perch and its reflection FG.
Great comp, detail, and pose also. I don't know where you stand on cloning, but I might consider removing the white fecal marks on the perch. There aren't that many & it would be relatively easy to do.
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments