Up a Tree

Gallery: AvianPosted March 8, 2011118 views5 comments

Just after a friend and I arrived at the Yorba Regional Park in Southern California we began unloading and setting up our gear. I noticed a couple pair of Wood Ducks in a tree. I grabbed my camera and began to go around so the light would be at my back (I usually use my tripod with this lens). I can resist ducks in a tree. It was early morning and they were up in the tree so I set up a 800 ISO to keep my shutter speed up. I like this pose, the best of about 6 shots. I wish I had upped the fstop to increase the DOF so the male was better focused. I have cropped this to 70% of original image but I am having trouble with the composition of this shot. I do not know if this works, but I do like the pose with the male hiding behind the female checking me out.

C & Cs are appreciated.

03-06-11 7:00 a.m.
Canon 7D
300 2.8L
f/5.0
1/800
ISO 800
Metering = Spot
Exposure Comp 0
WB - Auto
Handheld

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 8, 2011 at 4:14 PM

Harry,
great pose and expressions you got here. Really nice family shot.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 8, 2011 at 4:22 PM

Sweet light on this pair. A nice clean view and a attractive comp. I'm with you for a bit more depth of field for the drake. Nice Work Harry

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 8, 2011 at 8:11 PM

No DOF nit that you haven't already mentioned. I really like the pose. The detail is acceptable, especially in the larger version. The large OOF lights behind the male detract from the image somewhat.

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

Comment posted by Eddie Arceneaux on March 8, 2011 at 8:12 PM

I love it!

Registered on January 20, 2005, 29 Posts, 30 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 9, 2011 at 8:26 AM

Nice find and a very nice overall image. You might just try loosening the crop some. I think the uniqueness of this image will allow you to have the birds smaller in the frame and will camo that DOF problem that you have mentioned. I also learned a neat trick from portrait (human) photography. Use the burn tool at 2-3 pixels and darken the edge of the pupil and the black around the eye some and it will visually make the eye more prominent and sharper without adding any sharpening noise. In this image, you could also do it where the bill meets the bird for some sharpness there.

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