Mister Fat

**Bobobird** · 23rd February 2012, 12:35 AM

Thanks for looking.

**Dave Humphries** · 23rd February 2012, 01:07 AM

Hi Bobo,

I've seen birds like this; they make people think you haven't set the black point correctly and have oversharpened

I know you have done both right, but it still looks odd doesn't it? just something about their grey colouring and plumage 'detail'.
Or maybe it's me and the late hour?

Is that ice/snow on the end of the branch in the last one?

Cheers,

**jeeperman** · 23rd February 2012, 02:52 AM

I have come across a couple like that as well. Good work here Bobo.

**Bobobird** · 23rd February 2012, 03:19 AM

Thanks Paul. That is a Male Mallard. Someone said it could be a cross so am trying to get a definitive ID.

Thanks Dave - yes that is snow/ice on the edge of the lake. It is a rocky ledge which allows them to get on shore. There are a couple of flat rocks there which I sit or knell on to get as close to water level as possible.

The grey is almost as close I could get it to the real thing. He should be a little softer and lighter in the head area but that looked odd with a soft head and sharper body so equalized those somewhat. I had to do a manual w/b correction to get it about right.

**Steve S** · 23rd February 2012, 05:09 AM

Nice shots bobo, but these images look strange to me. The water tells me they should be sharper than they are. Were they underexposed and the ducks brightened? Not shure, but they don't look right to me?

**jeeperman** · 23rd February 2012, 05:09 AM

I wish I could help Bobo. The Mallard does go through what is called "eclipse" where they are colored more like the female but the head turns more redish and it is the wrong time of year. All the markings say Mallard but the color is odd. Sometimes you get an odd one. Check this Mallard out, can't figure what happened to him either, but the ladies like him.