You're buggin' me, man!

[stevefossimages]

Well, in fact, this mallard hen and duckling don't seem bothered at all by last evening's hatch of some type of bug or other. It was actually more bothersome to the photographer than the subjects. :D

Looks like the duckling is going to grow into a drake.

Canon 1DMk2n, Canon 600 f4L IS, iso200, 1/400, f4, center-weighted metering -2/3 EC, shot from rest on ground

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/stfcatfish/mallards-bugged.jpg

[canonloader]

Great composition Steve. The lighting is just right. :)

[stevefossimages]

Thanks Mitch. I got there about 4 p.m. and this was shot after 7:30 p.m., with about 20 minutes left before the light went off this narrow channel of water. Three hours of virtually nothing, then a bit of activity before sunset. After I shot these, I was packing up to go and a second family of mallards swam right into the last shaft of light about 10 feet across just as I had everything packed. Would have been PERFECT! :oops:

And that's the conundrum. Do you stay in your spot until the last available shooting light is gone, or do you walk out while there's still decent light so you can shoot something if you come upon it? Some days I lean one way, other days the other. While I was happy with this image, on balance I'd say I leaned the wrong way last night. One never knows. I'll be back out this evening and we'll just have to see. :D

[canonloader]

What, no rain up there? Man, it's coming down in buckets here, and if the weather weenie is right, for the next 8 days, and I got new glass coming. :(

[stevefossimages]

We haven't had a lick of rain for quite awhile now. Fire danger is extreme up here in the forest, campfires are banned, and everyone is holding their breath hoping that the small fires that have been cropping up in the area don't turn into large fires.

[Celestron]

Steve , great image and love the scene time ! Perfect ! Only thing bugging me is what are those specks all in the air above the ducks ? Are those flying bugs your talking about ? If so that can either really make or break an image . If they are bugs , are they clear in the original image ? This would make a great wall image ! BTW i love the DOF !!

[stevefossimages]

Thanks Ron.Those are OOF bugs that are significantly closer to the camera. Some like that element, some don't. I'm still debating whether I'd clone them out before offering the print for sale.

Opinions?

[Celestron]

Thanks Ron.Those are OOF bugs that are significantly closer to the camera. Some like that element, some don't. I'm still debating whether I'd clone them out before offering the print for sale.

Opinions?


Personally i'd blow it up first and mount it and stand back and see how it effects the whole picture . These maybe just perfect for making that image . Bugs is part of nature as well as being around water . I've seen this type image before with fish jumping and ducks coming in for a landing and i really like them as part of the whole picture , speaking for myself personally tho . You might also clone out and blow up an equal and hang side by side and do the same thing . Heck you might want to offer both types with or without the bugs . Never know what just turns those eyes for the public !

[canonloader]

You guys might want to take a closer look at those bugs. Maybe they aren't bugs? :lol:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=330277