The Beautiful Mandarin

Posted by Campbell on Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:10 am

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Drake Mandarin
Another from a recent trip to the animal park.

No crop

D2H
300 w/1.4 TC
Flash
Tripod

ALL Comments Welcomed

Jason Vaclavek
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Campbell
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by Mike Wilson on Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:14 am

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Sweet stuff there Jason. I would like to see him a bit higher in the frame so the body isn't clipped at the bottom. Also looks a bit overflashed, what were your settings? Really a neat shot.

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by Campbell on Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:49 am

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Hey Mike,
1/60 @f8
Exp comp -0.7
i-TTL -1.0
ISO 200

I too would have liked to gotten him better in the frame, but I watched this guy take to the water directly across the pond from me and he made a bee line right for me, I was totaly shocked! He stopped a few feet away from my feet, then turned and swam off to the left. He was moving a little fast for me, all the shots I got have him really out of whack in the frame. But I will take what I can get with these Mandarins!

Jason Vaclavek
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by KK Hui on Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:17 am

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Nice capture with vivid colors, Jason!
White is a tad hot though ...

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by LHays on Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:08 am

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Jason
I have to think that the Mandarin is the most beautiful of all the ducks. Such vivid colors....and always a unique personality. Maybe a tad "glowing".....but hey.....I think he's smiling at you!!

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by dhkaiser on Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:53 am

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What a rainbow of colors, never seen one before.

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by pleverington on Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:13 am

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I think its interesting to see the similarities to the wood duck plumage. I think if you had gotten lower, this would have ten times the visual impact and also what others said. I've come to the conclusion that just like head angle, the angle of looking down is critical in single digit degrees of angle to create the most feel for the subject. The colors are spectacular.

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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:22 am

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A very pretty shot. I also wish for the body not to be clipped at the bottom and a toning down of the bright white highlight in the water

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by Chris Kayler on Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:46 am

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Nice shot Jason. I'd prefer more space on bottom in exchange for less on top.

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by Gerald J Romanchuk on Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:11 am

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Wow, great colors, nice & sharp. Only nit has been mentioned - more room on the bottom.

Gerald Romanchuk
Edmonton, Alberta

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by AForns on Tue Nov 01, 2005 4:29 pm

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Doing good Jason !!!!! I like the exp these guys are so difficult to nail !!! Big Congrats !!!

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by Kim Steininger on Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:41 pm

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What beautiful colors!!! I really like him in that water too but I'd clone out that white patch near his head. A little better angle and you'd have an awesome image!

Kim Steininger

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by mcameron on Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:36 pm

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A very beautiful subject. All the nits have been mentioned. What if you cropped closer for just a head portrait (cut off the left 1/3) ???

-Mike

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by Larry Kaufman on Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:50 am

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Such amazing color on these Ducks and you captured it nicely Jason. Nits mentioned. I would like to have this one in my files! Still a goose egg on Mandarin's for me