# Female Mallard **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [March 8, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729 "2019-03-08T01:07:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/1 "2019-03-08T01:07:25Z")
While these aren’t usually considered the most appealing of ducks, I really liked this preening pose with the light on her and the dark background. Taken a couple of days ago at the same location as my last post. ![-20190305-_7D26742-Portland-Edit-Editlarge%20npn](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/2X/2/2a4c32d15a15a297e82ae76ed62382cb002bd037.jpeg) ### What technical feedback would you like if any? I raised the exposure of the darker areas through a luminosity mask-did it come out looking reasonable? ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? Anything you might wish to comment upon. ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: (If backgrounds have been removed, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn) 7DII, Sigma 150-600 C @ 252 mm, hand held, f/8, 1/1600, iso 800, manual exposure. Processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 10.8 MP. ###### If you would like your image to be eligible for a feature on the NPN Instagram (@NaturePhotoNet), add the tag ‘ig’ and leave your Instagram username below. ##### **_You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques._** ---
**Author:** ![Jenaya\_Launstein](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jenaya_launstein/32/6734_2.png) [@Jenaya\_Launstein](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jenaya_Launstein)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/2 "2019-03-08T03:45:49Z")
I love it! Great photo! ---
**Author:** ![Chuck\_Gangas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chuck_gangas/32/481_2.png) [@Chuck\_Gangas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chuck_Gangas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/3 "2019-03-08T04:12:03Z")
I love this preening post Dennis-light is lovely and a you have a good look at the bird’s face. I think the adjustment came out fine, but I might have left the top background a tad darker- I think it might isolate the bird further and add more drama to the scene. Just a thought- wonderful capture. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:52am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/4 "2019-03-08T10:52:25Z")
Hi Dennis, nice light on the bird and I like the preening pose. Processing looks fine. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/5 "2019-03-08T13:37:01Z")
Thanks, Chuck. I think I agree with you. I’ll try a gradient on the background starting about at bird level and see how it looks. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Wolfenden](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ian_wolfenden/32/350_2.png) [@Ian\_Wolfenden](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ian_Wolfenden)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/6 "2019-03-08T15:21:15Z")
Works beautifully, Dennis ! The light makes it special - and the framing of the duck just off-centre, with the side lighting drawing attention to the bird’s pose. The bg lighting seems just right to me - it’s nice how the waters visibly recede into the distant darkness ---
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/female-mallard/4729/7 "2019-03-08T18:34:34Z")
Excellent light and soulful pose. Well done.