The Elusive Mallard, try #2

[AshScache]

Here are my latest tries...what do you think? I took the monopod this time, and sharpened after i cropped.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525215610/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525215586/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525295935/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525295875/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525215344/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525295799/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525215260/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashullscachull/525215216/in/photostream/

[sonshine_rae]

I think you may have cropped them to close.. it's good to have a little space around things so they don't look/feel cramped. And you have to be careful not to crop off body parts (whether human or animal) or it just doesn't look right.

That said I really like the 6th image.. if the tail wasn't cropped I would think it an excellent image with great exposure and a wonderful reflection in the water :)!

The young'ns are cute too ;).

[howzitboy]

i peeked at a few and yeah, cropped to tight. u need some background to balance the pictures and give it life. u can shoot wide then crop till u get perfect composition, but not shoot tight cuz thats it.

[AshScache]

I believe that all of them are cropped to some degree. For the sake of learning, should i post the originals and go from there?

[sonshine_rae]

It wouldn't hurt to post the originals.

And something to keep in mind.. if you want to improve your photography.. try to shoot so you need very little or no cropping later.

[AshScache]

My aunt (who's a pro) said the same thing about cropping-- but I was zoomed in at 300, so is what you're suggesting getting closer to your subject (kinda tough with the ducks/ geese) or paying more attention to the rest of the composure of the photograph, ie: making the other "stuff" interesting?

[superdiver]

Another thing that will really help you get CC is to link your pictures so viewers dont have to go to another page to view them...I know some posters dont like to do that for whatever reason so its a personal thing...but personally, I dont view pictures that take me elsewhere...and I have a feeling alot of people dont, cuz when I see threads like this they dont get as much CC, which is a shame cuz I bet alot of the pictures are GREAT!

[AshScache]

could you explain how to link, then? I post links to my flickr because i dont like resizing the photos because they never look the same...tell me how to link, and that's all i'll do.

[superdiver]

I dont use flicker, I use smugmug, but I KNOW alot of people use flicker and link them. Smugmug has a "share photos" option and a link I embed in my post that makes my pictures come up magically....LOL

I would do a search on here, I bet there are threads on how to do it, and I bet its quite easy...

[AshScache]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/525215610_45813f6d04_b.jpg

[AshScache]

...i appear to have figured it out.

[AshScache]

Here are the originals, linked-- let me know what you think as compared to the ones i originally posted for C & C.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1098/529060667_b075ed3cce.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/529060707_d5ca8380cb.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/528971376_6ceed180e1.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1241/529060517_4980f10ea3.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1132/529060453_17cbc9234c.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1093/528971156_b5a45b100d.jpg

[superdiver]

I like the size of the first one you posted. The others are a bit small....IMHO...

Congrats....

I like #1, 4, and 6. the others are OOF or I dont like the crop...Off to a good start though!