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Landing Mallard


Landing Mallard
Photo Information
Copyright: Andy Cole (flagman) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 357 W: 43 N: 607] (2396)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Hoya Super HMC Pro1 67mm Sky1B
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-30 8:40
Viewed: 1404
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I've been a member of TN since February 2005 and I've been trying to get a good 'flying bird' shot ever since! This is my best so far, I think, because mallards seem to make great subjects for this type of shot, I don't know why. It's also in focus which is more than I can say for 99.99% of my flying shots :)

I won't tell you what you already know about the mallard, I thought I'd tell you a little about how I took this shot and what work I did on it, in case you are trying for the same type of shot.

It was taken at the edge of a small lake where I sometimes go with my family. My daughter feeds the ducks and I always take my camera, just in case! As we were throwing bread, some ducks came swimming over and then flew the last 3 or 4 metres and hopped up onto the bank where we were standing. That's when I took the shot. OK, it's probably slightly cheating compared to a bird in full flight, but I really like the shape of the wings and their neck when they are just about to land.

PP work: Convert from RAW, crop to the centre (whole frame was about double the size), clone a bit of foliage from the bottom right, re-size, duplicate layer, smart-sharpen 150%, 0.3. Used a layer mask to remove the noise from the sharpened layer, add frame.

I hope you like it, but negative comments are just as welcome as positive ones.

I've got another shot to post shortly when all the ducks flew away together - and another tip!

Andy
Bufo, ellis49, MojoUK, sAner, carper, Hil, liquidsunshine, Xalkida, Dando has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Bellissima foto complimenti. ciao gigicacco

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 73 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2006-08-30 8:48]

Hi Andy
very useful comment and I think think you did quite well here. It's my experience it's hard to capture flying birds and have them really sharp.
Compliments
Jacob

Hi Andy,
it's a very nice inflight shot. You have a perfect "wapon" for this hunting, a fast 70-200 with USM is very handy for this type of pictures.
Some part on the wings a sligly OE in the backlight but thats not a nit, it's quite striking. You did very well with this,
next time try one in full speed.
The droplets is a good bonus, Well composed and good details.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 526 W: 87 N: 697] (6099)
  • [2006-08-30 9:44]

bonjour,
superbe moment décisif de décollage. La composition & la netteté sont vraiment bien.

tfs

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-08-30 10:29]

Excellent capture in flight Andy...

Composition: *****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
Lighting ****
Background *****
DOF: ****
POV: *****
Note: ***

Thank you and greetings... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • MojoUK Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 65 W: 7 N: 328] (1479)
  • [2006-08-30 11:14]

Hi Andy,

Lovely shot, image is razor sharp with just a hint of motion blur in the wing tips. Composition, exposure DoF and background are all excellent. I recently spent a day trying unsuccessfully to get a good flight shot of some Mallards but got nothing nearly this good. Very well done. TFS.

Regards, Mark.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-08-30 12:08]

Hi Andy,

I really think this is a great picture. The exposure is spot on and the focus is extremely sharp. The motionblur on the tip of the right wing, gives the picture a sense of speed. Composition is good too and I really like the POV. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • takos1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 264 W: 25 N: 206] (2599)
  • [2006-08-30 12:15]

Bel decollo Andy!
Hai bloccato bene l'immagine; ottimi dettagli e colori, mi piace molto!

Ciao e grazie.
Franco

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2010 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2006-08-30 13:13]

a fantastic capture andy,
very nice freesing image, good speed composition and a fantastic details and a good point in view, very good job, I like it.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2006-08-30 13:51]

Hi Andy,

Great action shot I like the pose a lot, the details are lovely and sharp and the colours are excellent, I like the water droplets falling from her feet too.

TFS Hilary :)

Well timed capture Andy,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
superb colours, lighting and exposure. Well composed, excellent notes and well framed. Nothing negative to say about this shot.
Thanks for posting, have a great week.

Hi Andy

Your try was succesful. Excellent catch in motion for this duck with crisp details and very fine colors. Well done.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-08-30 17:22]

Hi Andy, nice landing shot. This one is definitely a keeper. Excellent position with the wings open, well focused, nice lighting and superb details. My own success rate at the moment is 100% failure, so one smiley :-) for sticking with it and one smiley for nailing it!:-) Very well done and TFS.
Dean.

Bonsoir Andy,
J'aime bien l'attitude du canard. Bon choix de cadrage. Belles lumière et netteté.
Félicitations pour cette superbe photo !
Martine

Hi Andy,
This is really well done. I like this picture very much! The movement of the duck is very well frozen and composition, POV, DOF and colors are amazing! Every detail is clean and sharp. I like those drops of water :) TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2006-08-31 15:17]

Lovely timing and great colours. Wonderful POV and composition

PT all out

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