Ducks in Flight

NatureZoneNatureZone Registered Users Posts: 60 Big grins
edited January 22, 2011 in Wildlife
I surprised these ducks (or should I say, they surprised me!) along a small creek and was just able to catch them against the red willows alongside the creek before they got away. I didn't have time to make any adjustments to the camera before shooting, but I thought the shallow depth of field I was using just before surprising the ducks gave this image a unique quality.

http://www.naturezonephotography.com

p987179152-4.jpg

Thanks for looking...

Karl Krieger
Helena, Montana

website : www.naturezonephotography.com

Comments

  • Mike JMike J Registered Users Posts: 1,029 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    One word - WOWbowdown.gifbow
    This is stunning. Love the colors, sharpness. Everything about it. Well done.
    Mike J

    Comments and constructive criticism always welcome.
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  • cdnbritcdnbrit Registered Users Posts: 9 Beginner grinner
    edited January 19, 2011
    I would agree about the shallow DOF - the colors are stunning, and the flight is tack sharp - well guess i gotta get out and practice more!
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    This image most definitely hast the WOW factor.
    Stunning.
    clap.gif
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Some wonderful color in this image Karl. Ducks are no easy capture as fast as they fly so good job on the focus grab. It is a shame you didn't get a better angle of view (ducks flying towards you). Not sure if this is cropped or full frame but the ducks are crowded in the frame and composition would be improved if you had a little more room in the rear and a good bit more in front of the ducks. Giving these fast movers a bit of negative space to fly into would help. If you cropped this, then adding "canvas" would be easy. If not you might add canvas using one of several methods available in photoshop. Still a nice shot. Looks a tad over sharpened here..but I'm blind so perhaps not ? Thanks for sharing.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    Some wonderful color in this image Karl. Ducks are no easy capture as fast as they fly so good job on the focus grab. It is a shame you didn't get a better angle of view (ducks flying towards you). Not sure if this is cropped or full frame but the ducks are crowded in the frame and composition would be improved if you had a little more room in the rear and a good bit more in front of the ducks. Giving these fast movers a bit of negative space to fly into would help. If you cropped this, then adding "canvas" would be easy. If not you might add canvas using one of several methods available in photoshop. Still a nice shot. Looks a tad over sharpened here..but I'm blind so perhaps not ? Thanks for sharing.

    What Mike said.

    This image might be worth the effort.:D
  • NyteNyte Registered Users Posts: 164 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Wow indeed!

    Stunning colours and pin sharp.

    Whilst convention would have birds flying into negative space, that they aren't on this occasion doesn't matter imho.
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Really excellent. iloveyou.gifclap
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • NatureZoneNatureZone Registered Users Posts: 60 Big grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    Thanks everyone for the nice comments. Considering this was one of those situations where I grabbed the camera and shot pretty much unprepared and handheld after surprising the ducks, I'm pretty happy. I would prefer to have more space on the left side for them to fly into, as several commented... but it didn't happen on this one. I had some space on the right, behind the ducks, but I cropped that so they were more centered in the image. Thanks again for the comments...

    Karl Krieger
    Helena, Montana

    website : www.naturezonephotography.com
  • firedancing4lifefiredancing4life Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    That's gonna make an awesome print....on canvas..maybe.
    Kevin
    www.rightangleimages.com
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    Karl, there's nothing more to say! Just wonderful. Best, Pam
  • StevemacStevemac Registered Users Posts: 86 Big grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    Almost 3D the image really pops with the colour of the ducks against the trees.

    A truly great unexpected capture.

    steve.
    www.ambient-aperture-photography.com
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemack/
  • clickin girlclickin girl Registered Users Posts: 278 Major grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    Well, everyone has said it already! I echo the sentiments! Beautiful!!!!
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  • deb22deb22 Registered Users Posts: 428 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Wow! Wow! Wow!
    COUNTRY ROADS ARE NATURES HIGHWAY. http://dafontainewildlife.com
  • HauerHauer Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Awesome! clap.gif
    Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers - Herman
    My motto: To learn more today, than I knew yesterday!

    Nikon gear & some lenses.
  • ThatCanonGuyThatCanonGuy Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Wow! May I ask what body/lens you used? (not that it really matters)
  • 50D50D Registered Users Posts: 26 Big grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Mike J wrote: »
    One word - WOWbowdown.gifbow
    This is stunning. Love the colors, sharpness. Everything about it. Well done.


    what he said !
    Canon 50D_Canon 24-105L_Sigma 30mm EX_Sigma 10-20mm EX 4-5.6_Canon 430EX II_Manfrotto 190XPROB/324RC2
  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Considering the circumstances present when taking the shot, I'd certainly agree that you did very well to get what you did - but imo, the busy-ness of the background detracts from the whole - it's competing for (too much) attention. To me, the lighter bits of vegetation - especially the 2 bits going L > R behind the top 2 birds - are image killers.
    If this was mine, I'd be considering what it would look like after cloning out (all of) these lighter strands, + probably blurring the bg a tad more and muting it slightly.

    I don't have access to CS5 and its CAF, so have no idea how well it'd cope with adding canvas to the left - but I'd be interested to see just how good a job it would do with all the high frequency detail that's present here :)

    pp
    Website

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  • FlyNavyFlyNavy Registered Users Posts: 1,350 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2011
    Perfect!!!
    http://jmledy.com/


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