The is the original shot not the processed version.
  Posted: 07/12/2025 21:13:22

Nice action shot. The head I felt needed a little more detail as I thought that it was heavily shadowed but upon looking up the American Widgeon found this to be it's natural coloring. This coloring makes it hard to distinguish the eye. I think a tighter crop might work better on this image as there is too little space above the head for the bird to take off. By taking out a lot of the water on the bottom and coming in a little from the right and more on the left (leaving in the major taking off splashes) would help on my opinion.   Posted: 07/14/2025 15:46:55

Polly, can you put your edited version in the comments for us to see? Thanks.   Posted: 07/16/2025 19:07:31

Ducks are hard to get close to when they are not aclimated to humans. Nice job getting into position for a takeoff. I doubt you had time to think about settings but I think a wide open aperture and faster shutter speed might have improved the image. 1/3200 for duck action is a bare minimum for me. Given the grassy setting wide open may have put the grass behind it more out of focus. I'd probably add a blur layer and apply it gently to the backgound and also do a subtle vignette to draw light to the duck. Nice work.   Posted: 07/16/2025 23:15:16

I think you have done well to capture the duck in flight and the water droplets make it more dramatic to feel the motion. I agree with Tom that abit more space above the head and a tighter crop would add to the image. I would add lens blur to blur out the background a bit.   Posted: 07/18/2025 22:35:27

Polly, I am so sorry that we had all this difficulty getting your image posted this month. I was hoping you would post the other version in the comments so everyone could see what you have done with it. Nonetheless, I think you have gotten some good suggestions and should be able to use this original to create a "keeper." I am still traveling, but if you would like to resend an edited version after the 24th I will post it and let everyone know that they need to take another look.   Posted: 07/19/2025 18:23:26

  Posted: 07/19/2025 23:01:01

This is a wonderful action shot. My comments are based on the processed image posted in comments. The wing span and splashed water droplets provide lots of energy. I would crop a bit more from the left so that the bird has more space to enter than he is leaving. The contrast looks a bit harsh. I would try adding clarity.   Posted: 07/23/2025 20:15:34