Motif: Mallards on final approach


Posted by hillrg on Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:11 pm

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Location: Long Lake, Nanaimo, B.C. Can 2 days ago.

I took this photo while practising with the group focus option on the D2H. My original plan was to track the numerous gulls that were milling about, when a series of mallards made fly-bys to land. Their approch involved flying right over me and on for about 200 meters, then a bank turn and final approach past me again. These two were about 20 feet above the water at this point.

D2H 70-200VR 1.4x 1/400s f/4 ISO400 manual metering, 40% crop, levels and some background blur applied. I missed the exposure by 2/3 stop and the photoshop levels really brought out the noise - definately a mistake with the D2H.
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Rory

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by Terence P. Brashear on Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:20 pm
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Rory

Nice composition and color. If you are using photoshop CS you can use the Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight tool to make the adjustments and you won't get the noise that you get with just levels.

I like this a lot, but would like it better if both birds weren't soft.

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Terry
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by Bill Whala on Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:41 pm
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I really like the repeating poses of the ducks, the wonderful background, and the angle drawn across the frame. The ducks do look a little soft to me as well.
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by mhp767 on Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:13 pm
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Red X! :x
 

by AlexC on Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:38 pm
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I am with Bill on this one, Congrats!!! 8)
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by hillrg on Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:39 pm
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mhp767 wrote:Red X! :x
Seems to be a pbase problem lately. The link is http://www.pbase.com/image/25760317
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Rory
 

by fredcor on Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:45 pm
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The BG really makes the birds stand out. I think it makes up for the nits mentioned. The important areas are well defined.
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by Alan Murphy on Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:12 pm
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Rory, love the smokey feel to this. Great shot.
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by Wayne Nicholas on Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:32 am
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I agree this is a little soft, but I love the look of it. BG really sets off the birds. Well done on the capture.
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by Gloria Hopkins on Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:06 am
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I'm undecided on whether I would have placed them more to the UL.... I agree that it looks slightly soft, but looks like PS should fix that right up. Beautiful colors, poses and background.
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by mhp767 on Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:06 pm
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Glad I got to see it, thanks for the link. Besides the apparent sharpness (missed focus?) I really like this shot. Very artistic. The diagonal is a strong point.
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by hillrg on Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:16 pm
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Based on the uniform response I have re-sharpened. I agree - looks much better - just like the larger original in fact. :wink:
Image
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Rory
 

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