These images were taken a day apart, both before 9 AM when the ducklings would forage for bugs in the grass or in the duckweed along the edge of the pond. It was overcast on the morning I shot the lower image, so maybe that is the cause of the difference in the colors of the shots. The lens was my 70 - 200 mm VR with a 1.7 TC. Post processing was similar: set white and black points in ACR, levels for the top image, Luminizer for the bottom image, the Edge for sharpening the top and the highpass filter for the bottom.
Cindi, I am impressed by how an "early riser" you are. I often see your comments on blogs just after they are published. If your are looking for variations on your top image, maybe you consider making it more about the two ducks competing for the same bug by cropping on the sides and bottom. I think you could lose much of the bodies and still know that we have two baby ducks. The mostly head shot could emphasize the the contrast in coloring and would add to the competition theme. On the bottom image, seems that this duck is eating grass not bugs (;->}. Did it survive?? Variations might be to blur the opposite end (duck's tail) on the left so the head gets more of the attention. Maybe you could consider emphansizing the color in the beak?? You must have a lot of washing to do; you always seem to be on the ground.
“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety” -Ansel Adams
When my only child went off to college in 2004, I started taking photography classes. First through Continuing Education, then 2 black and white film classes. After that I joined the Bay Area Photo Club and started learning about digital photography. Since the fall of 2009 I have been involved in animal advocacy and rescue and I also photograph homeless animals for 3 different groups. My husband of 33 years is my biggest supporter, in all ways, and I could not pursue this hobby without him.
These images were taken a day apart, both before 9 AM when the ducklings would forage for bugs in the grass or in the duckweed along the edge of the pond. It was overcast on the morning I shot the lower image, so maybe that is the cause of the difference in the colors of the shots. The lens was my 70 - 200 mm VR with a 1.7 TC. Post processing was similar: set white and black points in ACR, levels for the top image, Luminizer for the bottom image, the Edge for sharpening the top and the highpass filter for the bottom.
Cindi, I am impressed by how an "early riser" you are. I often see your comments on blogs just after they are published.
ReplyDeleteIf your are looking for variations on your top image, maybe you consider making it more about the two ducks competing for the same bug by cropping on the sides and bottom. I think you could lose much of the bodies and still know that we have two baby ducks. The mostly head shot could emphasize the the contrast in coloring and would add to the competition theme.
On the bottom image, seems that this duck is eating grass not bugs (;->}. Did it survive?? Variations might be to blur the opposite end (duck's tail) on the left so the head gets more of the attention. Maybe you could consider emphansizing the color in the beak??
You must have a lot of washing to do; you always seem to be on the ground.