ducks!

[x002x]

Was walking around the lake and thought about shooting the ducks and such. CC please =)

1.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4437049197_ee7a187f2d.jpg

2.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4437824426_ce18ec124b.jpg

3.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4437048171_2658d1dafd.jpg

4.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4437048485_f22aa9f51f.jpg


TIA!

[JimMcrae]

Bird and wildlife photography is all about timing and waiting on the right moment. Mallards are great because they're really brazen and will come right up to you if they think there's a chance of a meal, so you can take your time and await the right moment. The problem though is that unlike people, you can't tell them to stand here or look there so you simply need to be patient and wait until the shot presents itself. Taking some bread with you can help, or even pretending to have food as they'll still come up for a look.

#1 The head's in shade, but you may be able to bring that out in pp. It's often much nicer if you can get them with a natural background, like on the water or even in the grass, as opposed to man-made stone paths. Getting down to their level often makes for a better shot. If you had lay down here and shot the duck with the pond as a backdrop it might have been a nicer shot?

#2 and #3 Both nice shots with nice detail I think (they're a bit small) and you can see their faces and eyes. In #3 you can see the water droplets running down it's body, which suggests it's just came out of the water? A shot of it in the water might've been nicer? Technically everything looks okay but there's the unflattering ground again and some harsh shadows.

#4 A good shot, unreservedly, although once again, a bit too small to comment on detail.

Bird/wildlife photography is a bit weird. If these shots had been of a different, more timid or rare bird - one that's really difficult to get close to - they would be considered good/great shots. Last week I took some shots of twite and a long-tailed duck which are not even close to the quality of these ones, but being relatively rare here, I was (am) delighted with them. But I hope to get back to the same spot shortly for better quality shots :)

[dcad10]

try to get lower and not shoot downwards at the ducks and I would like #2 and #3 more!

[Flo]

Nice clarity on all photos.but agree about perspectives.its all fun!

[big8oy]

Good job on these. I would have to agree, that getting lower and in their natural environment would lead to cooler pictures. They do seem a little underexposed to me. If you brightened them up I think would look nicer too.

Shadow in the 3rd pic is kinda distracting. I tend to look at the shadow instead of the duck.