Berry Love

[Bobobird]

"Berry Love"




Was amazing seeing her jumping and jumping to get at the berries. None of the other ducks were at all interested. Watched the show for 15 or so minutes and then went to find other things to shoot. Returned about an hour later and she was still at it.

Q: Pic 1 - every time I look at it my eyes always wander to the left and have to re-focus for a subject. Suggestions?

As always, comments, suggestions and bashing totally welcomed and appreciated.

[Dave Humphries]

H Bobo,

I've not seen that behaviour, but too much of a good thing usually upsets ones digestion

Q: Pic 1 - every time I look at it my eyes always wander to the left and have to re-focus for a subject. Suggestions?

As always, comments, suggestions and bashing totally welcomed and appreciated.

I think because you're being attracted to the vertical stick/shoot and top left corner foilage, both are sharp - but could be cloned out without impacted the image negatively.

HTH,

[dje]

Hi Bobo

Good capture.

I think Dave is right about the stick and i also think the water etc to the left of the bird is a bit bright and this catches the eye. I cloned out the stick and applied a brightness gradient to the left hand side. Do you think this helps ?

Cheers Dave

[Bobobird]

Thanks Dave and Dave

Yes that seems to be it. The edit fixed that. Sometimes we do not see stuff that is right in front of us.

[GeorgeM]

A berry, berry nice pair of shots, Bobo.

[jamn4ex]

I really like the edit by Dave. That is very peculiar behavior(as in I have not seen a duck do that) , way to take advantage of it and produce a couple of great shots Bobo !

[Bobobird]

Thanks George and James.

Yes, Dave's edit did it. Hope to replicate that with my copy but have to learn about gradients first.

Took a ton of pics both orientations and only these 2 came out with the "point of impact". I was so hoping to get both the catch and the whole reflection but that was not to be.

[Bobobird]

Redo of 1 - better? worse?

Dave's is probably better since he knows what he is doing while Bobo is still learning.

[Donald]

Redo of 1 - better? worse?

Much better than the first and just as good as Dave's!

That is indeed a fascinating capture. I don't think ducks are meant to do that, are they? Obviously someone forgot to tell this lad.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Donald.

Nope never seen that ever and I see plenty of ducks in different places. That wild berry is quite common around ponds but none of the ducks have ever paid attention to them.

Maybe I should process one of the pics to show him lining up for the jump.

[dje]

Much better than the first and just as good as Dave's!

Better than mine I think !

[Bobobird]

Better than mine I think !

Modesty brings good karma your way...

[FrankMi]

Hi Bobo, although the first shot has the better coloring and background, the second one really shows the determination and extent of effort the duck is willing to go through to get to the berrys!

Berry Nice!

[Bobobird]

Berry many thanks Frank

Guess it is time to re-evaluate what a master bird photographer said to me a couple of months ago. He is 80 years old and has been into photography for the last 50 odd. Now he just does birds. His advice was shoot only if they are doing something. Only then is the pic unique.

[Bobobird]

Checking distance for jump


With her sister who did one jump and gave up.

[FrankMi]

Berry many thanks Frank

Guess it is time to re-evaluate what a master bird photographer said to me a couple of months ago. He is 80 years old and has been into photography for the last 50 odd. Now he just does birds. His advice was shoot only if they are doing something. Only then is the pic unique.

Sounds like excellent advise but I have seen some phenomenal bird shots posted here on CiC where the birds were just being themselves. I would have been tickled pink to have been able to shoot any of them. So far my favorite of yours is the second one in posting # 15. Great capture!

[Bobobird]

... I have seen some phenomenal bird shots posted here on CiC where the birds were just being themselves. I would have been tickled pink to have been able to shoot any of them.

Same boat here.

[GeorgeM]

Checking distance for jump


With her sister who did one jump and gave up.

I like number one of this pair. The second shot seems a bit harsh re the ducks. I also like the one in post #8. Maybe you were a witness to a kind of evolutionary adaptation.