Quack!

[jadams]

I shot it this afternoon. I liked it, but I'll let the experts decide. :D

http://www.jasperadams.com/B3EC4837_RT16.jpg

EOS 1D
ISO: 100
70-200 2.8 @ 200mm
1/250th sec - f/ 3.2
hand held
spot metered on right hand duck's feathers

Jasper

[philgabe]

Jasper:

Without claiming to be an expert, below are my comments:

1. Exposure/sharpening/colors = great shot.

I don't know the metering system of the 1D and what spot area it reads, but if you didn't compensate it's pretty impressive. What white balance did you use by the way?

2. Subject = not the most exciting to me

Not that there's anything wrong with ducks, but a grizzly bear would have been more dramatic...lol.

3. Composition

Given that the subjet is not the most dramatic, maybe placing the ducks in the bottom left corner would add more life to the picture, especially given the movement of the water which would suggest that they're going be sucked up to the upper right corner. It may have added a little movement to the image. Maybe using a slightly lower shutter speed to get some blur in the legs and surface of water may do that too. The thing that Kind of bothers me is the right duck being so close to the right side of the frame. It suggests that animal is about to leave the picture rather than the animal is entering the picture. The eyes of he viewer move from that duck to the right frame and don't naturally move from the all white duck to the beige one. I don't know if that makes any sense to you...I'll stop drinking.

That's about it. It's a very nice shot.

Philippe
www.epochphotos.com

[G2Jim]

I agree it could all be shifted just a little to the left, showing more of the water in front of the ducks. Very nice lighting & clarity. I like it.

[jadams]

Thanks for the comments -- I agree.

I have another that is positioned EXACTLY like you imagine. Unfortunately I think I spot metered the wrong spot before I took that one. I have a zillion that came out great... but the one with the best position is exposed wrong -- go figure.

I'm still trying to rescue it in photoshop. If I get it I'll post it with some before and afters (the before is quite terrible...).

Jasper

P.S. -- Auto White Balance is what I used.