[Keltic Ice Man]

This is my first submission to the Critique corner so I hope you like. I've been building up courage over the last few weeks , and have had some useful feedback on other photos in the sharing forum.

This picture was taken last weekend at Talkin Tarn, a small tarn near Carlisle. The duck allowed me to get very close, and I remembered some of the things from other threads like try to get down low to get a better shot. I was after, and hope I achieved a sharp image of the mallard.

What do you think?



I'm left wondering should the loose feather be left in? C&C please.

Thanks

Allan

Exif info - Make FUJIFILM Model FinePix S602 ZOOM
Aperture Value f/4
Exposure Program Aperture Priority
Flash No Flash
Focal Length 42.00 mm
ISO 200
Metering Mode Multi-Segment
Shutter Speed Value 1/78 sec
Date/Time 02/19/2006 01:45:03 PM

[CT]

Sharp it is Allan!

It's a good shot and you did well to get that close to him. He's just squashed a bit tight into the frame, and you've cropped to that square format again for no other apparent reason than to eliminate everything from your shot except the duck. Try to think about the overall composition, and how the shot works as a picture, not just a picture of a duck if that makes sense... how would it look if you wanted to frame it?

Generally speaking it's not a good idea to have him looking out of the frame, rght up against the edge like that.... don't be afraid to leave some space around him to show a little of his habitat or surroundings which usually makes for a more interesting shot.

I can only find one duck shot to try to show what I mean.



It's usually good to really fill the frame when you're going for tight portrait type head shots, but otherwise try to leave a little more space.

[Dave]

Well you should be proud of your 1st post...very good

[stepheno]

It is very good and CT has said everything except....I can't help feeling that it's as if the duck has been masked out and pasted on to a different background. TFS.

regards

[Venomator]

Really good execution KIM although I do agree about the 'too much of a good thing' observation regaridng space to the right of pic to give it something to look into !

Great use of DoF to capture all of it in focus though ! As Dave says ... a great first post !

Sp = Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - female of the species !

TFS ...

[Keltic Ice Man]

Originally Posted by stepheno

I can't help feeling that it's as if the duck has been masked out and pasted on to a different background.

Oh how I wish I had the photoshop know-how to be able to put on a different background, but I can see what you mean.

Taking CT's advice here it is with a bit of space on the rhs. Thanks for the advice CT I see exactly what you mean .



Any better do you think? Feels more like a picture, than a picture of a duck. I personally like this one better, isn't it strange what a crop will do.

[Venomator]

Now that is what makes a good pic ... great !?!

Excellent shot now KIM ! Well done ...

May I ask why you cropped it so vigorously in the first place ?

[Keltic Ice Man]

Originally Posted by Venomator

May I ask why you cropped it so vigorously in the first place ?

Thanks for the comment, I'm not sure why I cropped so hard, I suppose I did the usually newbie thing of overlooking the picture and concentrating on the foreground.

Allan

[Venomator]

Originally Posted by Keltic Ice Man

Thanks for the comment, I'm not sure why I cropped so hard, I suppose I did the usually newbie thing of overlooking the picture and concentrating on the foreground.

Allan

Ha ... shows you took a great pic in the first place though - that counts for most !

[Boon]

great shot, and a great improvement too, and they all taste good with orange sauce

[Venomator]

Originally Posted by Boon

and they all taste good with orange sauce

Heathen !

[CT]

Good job Allan!

[Fangman]

The second crop really works - a lovely picture.

[Warspite]

Agreed - gives the duck more scale, the tighter crop made the thing look oversized.

Having a bit of surround definately adds to the overall shot, especially when its a fairly natural setting like you have there.

Thanks for sharing