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DaveLoucks

Mandarin Ducks

Another experiment with curve tools.

Another experiment with curve tools.
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Jun, 2015

Views

2388

Likes

+416

Awards

Featured

Contest Finalist in 400 Ducks Photo Contest

Peer Award

+74

Top Choice

+48

Superb Composition

+46

Absolute Masterpiece

+38

Outstanding Creativity

+13

Magnificent Capture

+10

All Star

Superior Skill

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

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JAW-DROPPING PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!!!! WOW :))))))))))))))))))))))))

wow ,what colors,you win,thats superb photo,all phases come together ,great photo turned into art,kool

Premium

amazing shot ! So colorful, love it !

Incredible Colors!!!!

What an amazing bird! I have never seen a duck like this! Just beautiful! Great job!

Congratulations on your Contest Finalist win in 400 Ducks Photo Contest!

PRO+

Beautiful capture..congrats!

Ultimate

Beautiful closeup of the duck. Focus point seems to be the eye which is always important in a portrait.

See all

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

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Behind The Lens

Location

San Diego Zoo, area is completed shaded by trees. It's not used and is very relaxing there. Just a few ducks mostly locals and wild. Small pond near old hippo area that to is no longer in use. Because few go to this pond the local wildlife love it. It's secluded and quiet.

Time

Afternoon, completely shaded all day very limited light.

Lighting

Only that the color brilliance was brought out in Photoshop. the original RAW image was very close to this one but in making it a JPG. it lost some of it's brilliance. The flat lighting melded the whites nicely with the background. This was one of my first experiments in working with some of the contrast curve tools found in Elements. Something that I'm new to and learning about.

Equipment

Sony A65, 600 Tamron Tele. No tripod. Used a tree for support. The Tamron isn't horribly heavy and I use my photography for hiking. Find tripods generally difficult to pack.

Inspiration

Love these Ducks, very beautiful colorful and sweet. The Wood duck has an odd beak, it's pretty too. But these Ducks god made to perfection. I think he or she probably stopped making ducks after he got this one so right. I'd love to own a couple. I love the way they fold there wings like a plane on an aircraft carrier, maybe this is where the original aviation idea came from.

Editing

Basic photoshop, just Element's 8. Contrast tools and a little adjustment to color brilliance. Really not that much though. RAW image was gorgeous. Editing is very new to me.

In my camera bag

Sony A65, Tamron 600, Macro, 200 tele., polarizing, yellow filters, star etc..

Feedback

This is a place that few see in the zoo. Look around and take your time visiting places. Even if it's dark try an image. Maybe you can do something with it later on.

See more amazing photos, follow DaveLoucks

DaveLoucks

DaveLoucks

Mandarin Ducks

Another experiment with curve tools.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow DaveLoucks

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