Bufflehead Redo

Gallery: AvianPosted January 6, 2015118 views7 comments

I was back out at the local lake today stalking the Buffleheads. I got a little closer this time, so I think the image quality is a bit better because the crop, while still substantial, is not as large as in my previous posts. It is still a struggle to properly expose the blacks without blowing the whites. It's a delicate dance. I liked the water droplet coming off the bill.

Processed using Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC 2014. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 200-400 f4 L IS
f7.1
1/2000s
ISO 640
Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter engaged)

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on January 7, 2015 at 3:59 AM

Jerry this is very nice, lovely muted colours on the duck and the water droplet falling from the bill is a real bonus.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 7, 2015 at 9:32 AM

Jerry, nice job handling the iridescent colors and the whites. Great catch light in the eye and the drip adds interest.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 7, 2015 at 11:32 AM

Jerry,
The handling the whites dance for this bird is really a challenge. You have done a good job. I really like the water drops from his beak. My pet idea of the moment is to not crop our images so tightly. I think we/I tend to do so because we are thrilled that we got something tack sharp that will stand up to it. I question whether we denigrate images with tight crops. (Perhaps your post is not the right medium for my soap box, but here it is.) Thanks for posting this.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 7, 2015 at 12:35 PM

My monitor at work is terrible - so I believe there's better detail in the whites than what I'm seeing. Overall a really nice image with great colors on the head and I like the droplets as well.

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

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on January 7, 2015 at 1:08 PM

A very cute expression, and the water droplet a great detail!

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on January 7, 2015 at 1:20 PM

I'd say this turned out really well. The blacks and whites look good and the iridescent colors of the head seem just right and not over-saturated. Nice head turn and catch light.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Rose on January 7, 2015 at 3:19 PM

I find the image to be very pleasing! I like the iridescence in the head feathers. Good detail too.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 58 Posts, 122 Comments