Three Mallards on a Log

[Karm Redland]

Lighting was flat when I took this shot. However, I just really liked how these guys arranged themselves on the log and thus still took the shot. I think it still came out okay. Any suggestions to improve its "sense of light" especially welcomed.

Comments welcomed.



karm

[jprzybyla]

Nice image Karm. I wouldn't change it, I like it as it is.

[Geoff F]

I wonder about a very slight crop from the top to reduce a little of that 'heaviness' and distraction in the background.

But what size ratio would that leave you? Possibly the same amount off the right side as well?

I'm not really sure about this; but I certainly wouldn't change anything else.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice image Karm. I wouldn't change it, I like it as it is.

Completely agreed. The background is like an environmental mosaic. Very cool!

[Brownbear]

Beautiful image, as is...

[Karm Redland]

Joe, thanks.

karm

[Karm Redland]

I thought about nipping part of the top to get rid of part of the reflection on the top right: light green reflection. I'll play with this a bit and maybe re-post with this change. Thanks for commenting.

karm

[Karm Redland]

Thanks Mike. When I began processing this image I had to control myself not to go overboard bringing out all of the structure in the background reflections.

karm

[Karm Redland]

Thanks Christina.

karm

[FootLoose]

I don't know about the ducks, but I love the background. That reflection would have been my shot.

[Dusty]

Wouldn't change a thing.
Dave.

[jcuknz]

Lovely as the reflections of foliage and ducks are ... it is unbalanced with the heavy tones at the top and sadly the plumage of the ducks matches the log and they simply do not stand out. Really a confusion of tones unlike Christina's pigeon and cyclist which has the clarity of simplicity. If it was my shot I would keep it in my computer and treasure it as a shot that didn't work.

[Brownbear]

Hi Photo Nut,

While I am truly appreciative that you like the clarity and simplicity of the pigeon photo, I adore this image of Karm's for the composition, beautiful natural colours and especially for the reflection/background she has captured so beautifully. Our photos are very different, indeed...

Lovely as the reflections of foliage and ducks are ... it is unbalanced with the heavy tones at the top and sadly the plumage of the ducks matches the log and they simply do not stand out. Really a confusion of tones unlike Christina's pigeon and cyclist which has the clarity of simplicity. If it was my shot I would keep it in my computer and treasure it as a shot that didn't work.

[Karm Redland]

Christina, no need to be defensive. I think its cool that jcuknz likes your image better.

Jcuknz, I could have processed this image to fit your tastes: create more contrast between the ducks and the log and change the tonal balance between the top and bottom of the image. However, I processed the image to fit my tastes.

I'm always open to changing an image. If enough people have your complaints I would consider redoing it. In fact, in the future if I reopen this image in raw then I'll definitely experiment with your suggestions. I'm confident it would make a nice image.

karm

[Shadowman]

very nice.

[Karm Redland]

Thanks John.

karm

[drjuice]

Like the picture, Karm. The lady mallards often won't associate with each other (seems like they're always chasing after one or more of the boys where I take active critter pictures) so catching three of them so close together seems like a coup to me! One of the ladies at the pond where I shoot was chasing after a teal on Tuesday. Still haven't figured that out!

virginia

[Karm Redland]

Thanks Virginia. Pure luck catching them in this pose.

karm

[jamn4ex]

Karm I am with the like it as is crowd. Meaning I wouldn't bring out the ducks more if it meant changing the background.

[Karm Redland]

Thanks James. At a certain point in the development of an image the photographer's tastes have to kick in. Obviously, there is more than one way to develop this or any other image.

karm