Mallard Couple

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

-20230322-_A1_8365-McLane Creek-ARW-Edit-Edit.jpg
-20230322-_A1_8365-McLane Creek-ARW-Edit-Edit.jpg2048×1557 1.91 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Not sure why I was poking around at this shoot from a couple of years back, but I ran across this image I hadn’t processed and it looked like it had some promise.

Specific Feedback

Do the ducks pop from the background enough? To me the female blends in quite a bit unless you take the time to look more closely. Is that a good thing or a pain?

Technical Details

Sony A1 FE200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 622 mm, monopod, f/9, 1/1600, iso 3200 Noise reduction with DxO PureRaw 4, processing in LR & PS CC. Small crop, some bright grasses and stems removed, brightened and increased microcontrast on the mallards. Taken March 22nd, 2023 at 8:39 a.m.

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3

Hi Dennis, nice scene you captured showing the habitat of these ducks. Nice reflection and sharpness on both ducks. At first I was wondering if this was a slightly misty morning - has a certain mood to it I think. Works for me.

4

@Allen_Sparks It very well could have been, or at least a little fog. We get a lot of it!

1 Like
5

A nice composition showing the ducks in their environment-looks as if that might be a future nest. Both ducks show up well.

6

This is such a lovely image. Two gorgeous ducks in a duck environment. I love tghe way the male appears to be snoozing whilst the female is standing guard.

The female is quite visible but so well camouflaged and that’s a good thing for me.

The processing is lovely.