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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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 @Sandy_Richards-Brown
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.