Punk Ducks

Gallery: AvianPosted July 13, 201145 views4 comments

This image of two young male mallards just beginning to develop their color is a composite of two full frame images. The foreground duck was cut out from the first image and added to the image of the bg duck.

It's interesting to see how the iridescent green coloring is developing in each duck. I find it curious that the duck in the foreground has much larger eyes than the one in the bg even allowing for the difference in viewing distance. Perhaps the ducks differ in age.

At any rate, I hope that you find the image interesting and I welcome all comments.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250 (bg image) and ISO 1600 (fg image), 1/1000 s, f/9, +1/3 EV, 16 MP (full frame), NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening. [ISO was fairly high here: variable cloudy day).

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 13, 2011 at 6:25 PM

Interesting composite image and I am always amazed at the variation of the mallards I have seen. Not to take anything away from your creative approach but for me the mallard in the background has enough interesting elements to stand on it's own with that nice iridescent shine and dark head.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 13, 2011 at 7:02 PM

I think you have a young one (rear) and an adult in eclipse coloration. He's actually lost his color...and will get it back this fall. Interesting shot! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 13, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Great job on the dof, Steve, and I like the composition.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on July 14, 2011 at 9:02 PM

I like it. It's different.

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