The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Lake Kusharo, Japan
I never heard of a SMEW, but Nate Chappel found us a few on our Japan tour.
This uncommon gorgeous, distinctive, petite , small-billed diving duck is a close relative of the mergansers as well as of the Bufflehead and the goldeneyes. These few we saw were with mergansers. They are found in northern Europe and Asia.
Specific Feedback
comments and suggestions welcome
Technical Details
Sony A1
200-600 @ 600
Date Taken: 2025-02-11 00:07:37
Exposure Time: 1/2500 sec
F Number: f/10
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 500
Exposure Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Holy cow! Drop dead gorgeous duck (that I have never heard of, let alone seen) and very well captured.
The limited colour palette is wonderful, as is the pose the bird has given you. I like the little green snack dangling from his/her bill.
There’s that beautiful “barring” on some of the feathers near the rump that maybe could be contrasted up a little to show the more of the barring. A very minor suggestion on such a beautiful image.
Sandy: Spiked my -meter with this one. I thought it was B&W until looking closely at the grass and the touch of color on the forehead. Drop dead gorgeous! >=))>
Smews are great - I actually think the female is very attractive too. But in Korea they’re very timid and fly away at the slightest disturbance, so you were blessed to get close like this. Was he close to the shore? A lovely image which you must be proud of.
Mike - a fairly large crop, but they were closer than any of us could believe. You’re right that they are extremely skittish, likely because they are so easily seen by the flying critters hoping to eat them! (reportedly a tasty duck like their cousins, the mergansers)
Beautiful image, Sandy. I love the nice low angle and the bit of whatever dangling from the bill is wonderful. A couple of eons ago, when I first got into crossword puzzles, Smew was a pretty common word, but this is the first image I’ve seen of one and I haven’t seen it in the crosswords in years (they’ve all gone to pop stars and actors I’ve never heard of).
Sandy…what an interesting and very cool looking duck. I can definitely see that these are in the merganser family. The white and black is stunning as are the markings and the head tufts. The fact that you caught this one in water that is almost black and white works really well. I have never heard of this duck so thanks for sharing this one with all of us. Well done Sandy!!
Sandy: this is a wow image of a bird I’ve never seen or heard of. At first, I thought it was a BW until I saw the grass hanging from its bill. Light, subject and composition are all spot on. Print it!!
-meter with this one. I thought it was B&W until looking closely at the grass and the touch of color on the forehead. Drop dead gorgeous! >=))>