Posted by Craig Strand on February 10, 2009 at 1:56 AM
Captured this pair of American Widgeon at Ridgefield NWR last saturday dining on the vegetation. I know the hen is a tad soft due to the lenses short DOF, but I still like it featuring a "pair."
I'm enjoying this, Craig. It's a lovely pairing with their poses looking like an early celebration Valentine's Day.
Posted by Austin Booth on February 10, 2009 at 3:55 AM
Nice shot. Just in case you are interested. I got some great close up views of a Eurasian Wigeon at the Tualatin River NWR on Saturday at the viewing platform right behind the nature center. Not quite close enough to blow it up this big though.
Posted by John Williams on February 12, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Nice catch of a pair Craig. It might need a touch of CCW rotation?
Posted by Rick Lundh on February 13, 2009 at 1:32 PM
IDK... images of ducks just dont seem to get me all hot and bothered . This is a pretty basic comp that a 4 year old could get with a point and shoot. Maybe they are rare ducks and I'm just ignorant. The DOF looks good to me tho...
Posted by William Brozy on February 13, 2009 at 2:40 PM
wow - that's pretty raw Rick. Maybe you should rename your website crazyaboutnature minus ducks.
Craig a nice pair although they do appear to be swimming uphill. If this is your first Widgeon pair capture congrats....
Posted by Craig Strand on February 13, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Thanks Bill and John, I have already corrected the image with a ccw rotation. I was able to get one of my 4 year old colleagues to put down their "point and shoot" and show me how in PS!
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on February 15, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Craig, FWIW and being late to commenting, I think this is a credible widgeon image. I know I don't have any that are as good (but then, I don't do much waterfowl imaging). The DOF is really good, the details in the foreground male's feathers is great. Other than the CCW rotation, my only nit might be that the male's bald pate is too hot and you might be able to fix that with a second development from the original raw image.
Posted by Rick Lundh on February 16, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Ya know... I have to say that after coming back to read this, I'm a little embarrassed about how short and blunt my critique was. I guess since I havent critiqued in a while, I have lost a little tact. Craig, I hope you accept my sincere apologies if you took offense to my comments. My line of thought was more that there seemed to be very little comments on your image here. I commented on a few others that had more comments and I felt compelled to give you my thoughts on the image since so many others didnt give you the time of day on this.
I remember posting some images of ducks on this very forum 5 or 6 years ago and recieved pretty much the same commentary, but from multiple posters. It stung a little at first, but honestly, it was some of the hardest, more honest comments that stuck in my head when I was out trying to get the next comp. I wouldnt have grown without the honest critiques that this forum gave to me and all I was trying to do was instill that same base that I hear so many on this site comment to the fact that this was the very reason NPN was so different from other photo sites. If someone posts an image, its almost as bad to not comment at all (from my point of view).
Still...my comments could have been less harsh...again, I apologize
However...if you are going to share your work and ask for critiques on your art, you've got to be open to any and all feedback. So... it looks like we both have something to work on, eh? Please...keep the images coming!
And note to William: Kudos for that super funny comment on my website. You made my girlfriend and I laugh...that was a good one! (seriously)
Posted by John Williams on February 16, 2009 at 4:47 PM
...Maybe you should rename your website crazyaboutnature minus ducks...
And now: http://www.crazyaboutnatureminusducks.com
Discussion
9 repliesCanon 40D
canon 600mm f4.L
F/6.3
1/4000
ISO 400
Craig a nice pair although they do appear to be swimming uphill. If this is your first Widgeon pair capture congrats....
I remember posting some images of ducks on this very forum 5 or 6 years ago and recieved pretty much the same commentary, but from multiple posters. It stung a little at first, but honestly, it was some of the hardest, more honest comments that stuck in my head when I was out trying to get the next comp. I wouldnt have grown without the honest critiques that this forum gave to me and all I was trying to do was instill that same base that I hear so many on this site comment to the fact that this was the very reason NPN was so different from other photo sites. If someone posts an image, its almost as bad to not comment at all (from my point of view).
Still...my comments could have been less harsh...again, I apologize
However...if you are going to share your work and ask for critiques on your art, you've got to be open to any and all feedback. So... it looks like we both have something to work on, eh?
And note to William: Kudos for that super funny comment on my website. You made my girlfriend and I laugh...that was a good one!
LOL, now that's funny.