Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
I used an 800mm lens for this, hand held. I was on the edge of a private pond… with a fence so couldn’t get very close. Many of the photos I took that day included more than what you see… but these ducks were easy to crop for results.
I am open to all comments and critiques.
Hi Sue, nice collection of ducks you captured. Good to see the green on the mallards heads as opposed to be blacked out. I notice that the focus is on the duck in the background rendering the foreground ducks quite soft. I think this would work better the other way around with the mallards being the sharpest in the image. The whites on the background duck look hot so I think either a faster shutter or narrower aperture could have been used to tame the highlights. As far as composition, I think you could add more space on both right and left sides as the current image feels a bit cramped. Congrats on getting the Northern Pintail (bird in the back) - I find these ducks tough to capture.
Thanks for your comments Allen 
I do tend at times to crop too much. I am going to attach the original photo before cropping to see what you think. I did look for Pintails… and found many not just this one. I am just learning how to use the 800 mm settings… I hear you on the faster shutter and smaller aperture.
I had many photos like the one I am attaching and tried to crop in on the Pintails. You are right it would have been nice if the ducks were in the back.
I have a question… is it better to respond by email for the National Photo Network - or respond on the actual website?
Thank you!
sue
Be a rainbow in some else’s cloud.
~Maya Angelou
Sue, responding on the website is best so we are all in the loop and can learn together.
Sue, I tried downloading the image in comments but was not able to. I could see cropping from just to the left of the pintails/mallards and then on the right to include the second to last bird on the right. Hope that makes sense. Image needs to be straightened too based on the water line at the shore in back.
Well I did straighten after I cropped… actually when I cropped you don’t see the water line in the back. What I sent you was the original before adjusting.
I will start replying on the site from now on and not email. I was confused to see comments coming to both places.
sue
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
~ Pericles
Sue, thanks for posting this image. I am learning a lot from Allen’s responses to you. I have a question for you, @Allen_Sparks . With such a long lens, would a smaller aperture (it looks like it was f/ll) be enough to keep the whole group in sharp focus? Was there adequate DOF if the middle group of 3 mallards had been the point on which to focus? It looks like there is water detail behind the group that is still sharp.
Hi Barbara, yes the critical focus point may have actually been behind the pintail. I doubt a bit narrower aperture would have been able to get as much DOF needed to get the whole group of ducks in focus but that is just a guess.
My original comment about a narrower aperture or faster shutter speed pertained to keeping the whites from being hot. Looks like ISO was 100 so that could be increased also giving a faster shutter speed (1/250s seems quite slow for hand held shot at 800mm) and also allow a narrower aperture to be used.
Thanks, Allen. I am still trying to get my mind wrapped around DOF when I am actually out in the field working with a telephoto lens. 
