# White Tie Affair

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** birds\
**Created:** [January 13, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899 "2025-01-13T16:30:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [January 13, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899/1 "2025-01-13T16:30:34Z")

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![-20250108-_A1_1364-Ridgefield-ARW-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/b/7bfe0a6d3d38e1576f015dda28dd893079357e53.jpeg)

> **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_
> 
> The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

### Description

Another one from the wildlife refuge last Wednesday. Water levels were high and there was a nice vantage point at the corner of one of the ponds where the ducks were reasonably cooperative. This is still a very substantial crop, but I think it held up well enough for web viewing.

### Specific Feedback

Does the head-on presentation work in this case?

### Technical Details

Sony A1, FE 200-600 + 1.3 TC @ 840 mm, beanbag on car window, f/9, 1/2000, iso 6400. NR using DxO, processing in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 1894x2606. Microcontrast boost on the Pintail, some texture reduction on the water where I still had a bit of noise.

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### Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

- Vision and Purpose:
- Conceptual:
- Emotional Impact and Mood:
- Composition:
- Balance and Visual Weight:
- Depth and Dimension:
- Color:
- Lighting:
- Processing:
- Technical:

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morrissey](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_morrissey/32/683_2.png) [@Peter\_Morrissey](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Morrissey)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899/3 "2025-01-14T21:14:23Z")

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Hi Dennis  
I think the shot holds up nicely. Love the head on, with the duck coming down frame at me.  
Peter

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**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:** [January 14, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899/4 "2025-01-14T21:19:44Z")

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Thanks you, @Sandy_Richards-Brown and @Peter_Morrissey Peter: I rather liked putting it in the top of a vertical frame myself. I can think of some old shots where that probably would have been more effective than the way I framed them originally.

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**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899/5 "2025-01-14T23:11:39Z")

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Your composition (bird at top) does give the feel the duck is swimming towards the viewer. Never really thought of this before. And the water motion adds to this feeling.

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**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/white-tie-affair/44899/6 "2025-01-18T18:23:57Z")

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Nice idea on the comp – not sure I would have thought of it either. I love how the duck’s color matches the water! The head-on look works especially well here as the two white areas on the sides of the bill fit so nicely against the centered white on the breast. (Cool title!) The reflection is very nice.

One extremely pixel-peeping note – there is a trace of blue CA on the right side of the head. Desaturating blue might fix it nicely. Since there is not much blue in the frame you might not even need to mask, but if you did need to, it likely wouldn’t require microsurgery.