Pigeon Guillemot & a Duck

[Brownbear]

As always I'm working on my bird images. I'm happy with these, especially for the backgrounds and light, but continually learning.

f/8 Matrix Metering Focal Length 500 mm (the only variable was my shutter speed)

ISO 1600 (low light - denoised the water in all the images)

Mystery Duck SS 1 /2000 (cropped a little off of the back end so it wasn't so centered)




Pigeon Guillemots

Not cropped yet because I'm always hesitant/unsure where to crop images with ripples in water.

SS 1/2500



SS 1/1250



- Can anyone identify the duck? I've tried with no luck yet.
- Should I crop the reflection of the 1st Guillemot? ie; the reflection is so/so
- Any comments on the 3rd Guillemot... Yes, incredibly cute but ?

Thank you.

[rtbaum]

Looks like a common merganser, Christina. Very nice image!

[terrib]

Christina, I really like these. I might leave the reflection off the second one just because it's not clear and I don't think it adds but the bird is really clear.

[Mike Buckley]

- Should I crop the reflection of the 1st Guillemot?

I would increase the canvas just a tiny bit at the bottom and clone to fill in the added space with water.

[Kodiak]

Looks like a common merganser…

Right!

[Mark von Kanel]

Christina, excellent attempts, im crap at BIF need to practice to catch up with you!

[bnnrcn]

Hi Christina, I like them all I would crop the reflection in #2 and I agree with Mike about #1. #3 is cute really, I think you feel uneasy about it because its eyes are closed and the eyes are always expected to be in sharp focus. But I like the image as it is because the bird looks as if it says ' help mum, I can't swim' , very nice expression

[Brownbear]

Thank you to all for your comments, suggestions and help identifying the bird.

Randy and Kodiak.... Thank you. The Common Mergenser was one of my guesses but I was looking at an image of the male so I ruled it out. Appreciated! The female http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/416...Merganser.aspx

I especially appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts on the reflection. I'm learning that with these birds the reflection doesn't always work.

Mike... I will try your suggestion later today. If I manage it, I will post the result.

Binnur... Thank you for the thumbs up on the 3rd bird. I asked because I'm too often swayed by cute.