Another bufflehead attempt

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

BH 1.jpg
BH 1.jpg1920×697 832 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I find these small ducks quite challenging and hard to resist. I went to my neighborhood lake again this morning and found several. Attempting another take off shot here.

Specific Feedback

I think this image is a good bit better than my last post of these ducks. Any thoughts on composition, sharpness or look of the duck?

Technical Details

Canon R7, 200-800mm@800, handheld
ISO 800, f9, 1/4000s

Processed in DXO PureRaw 4 and Photoshop.

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2

Allen, what are you bribing these ducks with,
to get them to take off parallel to you??? :slight_smile:
This is an excellent image - water splashes and drops are sweet, and the duck is sharp and with good wing position and eye.
My only suggestion for this great image is to off the horizontal white water reflection across the duck.

3

Great action, perfectly captured. Composition is fine - the story is in the walk/ run on the water.
Perhaps it is my eyes, marginally soft. Shutter speed is excellent. Did you apply any Clarity to the water splashes / drops ?

4

@Karl_Zuzarte @SandyR-B
Hi Karl, Sandy, thank you for the comments!
Karl, I applied sharpening to the bird only. I’ll see what applying it to the splashes looks like.

5

Very cool, Allen. I too wonder how you’re getting these birds to take off parallel to your focus plane. The splashes are great.