Unbelievably Different!

[Kodiak Qc]

•

Evolution has Her own ways!

Gadwall drake
— playing the low key profile —

Mandarin drake
— the bright, colourful strategy —

​

 

[Kodiak Qc]

•


Interesting to see that
no interest is shown!

 

[Rubber Soul]

Superb shot of the Mandarin.

 

[ancient_mariner]

The Mandarin is lovely, but the Gadwall looks a bit OOF, with the point of focus being just in front of the bird. Sorry not to comment before - I don't normally do the bird section.

 

[Bobsyeruncle]

Those mandarins are stunning birds.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Superb shot of the Mandarin.

Thanks Gary!

The Mandarin is lovely, but the Gadwall looks a bit OOF, with the point of focus being just in front of the bird.

The first time I got that fellow at a proper distance from my
lens, I was so excited as it had just landed the day before at
the marsh… a first sighting.

Once at the studio, I was ! All the shots had a
something soft to them. It took me some days to realize that
this effect is part of the evolutionary design strategy of the
specie. Some will boldly go for striking designs and others will
adopt rather subdued design strategies. The wings feathers
are easier to perceive as sharp but not those on its head that
may appear soft though the eye is sharp.

The same strategies may be observed by many other species
of animals, not only birds, including predators.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Looking again at the image, I still think the point of focus is a couple of centimeters in front of the bird, with the eye being right on the edge of focus and the beak sharp.

 

[gramps]

Two nice birds to see Daniel ... for me your images appear over-saturated but I accept that this will be a matter of personal choice.
Water seems to slope from right to left in the Mandarin shot

Some will boldly go for striking designs and others will
adopt rather subdued design strategies. The wings feathers are easier to

perceive as sharp but not those on its head that may appear soft though the eye is sharp.

There is certainly some merit to this view, (excluding the evolution aspect, for me) ... here is one I took yesterday, which was not angled in front of the lens and I think it does demonstrate the difference in appearance of the feathers to the head as against the feathers to the neck, for example.

View attachment 98721

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Looking again at the image, I still think the point of focus is a couple of centimeters in front of the bird, with the eye being right on the edge of focus and the beak sharp.

I quite understand what you see.

The next image, Tony, was taken a few minutes after when
the Sun showed shyly but enough to brighten things up.

The second image is at 100% from a distance of +/- 60m.

​

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Those mandarins are stunning birds.

One comes to expect so much of their spectacular
appearance that, when shot in less than perfect light,
the bin is the only way to go!

 

[Kodiak Qc]

your images appear over-saturated but I accept that this will be a matter of personal choice.

Saturation, clarity, vibrance… these are sliders
that do not exist in my converter or I never use.

Since my work ends up on publisher's desks, it
is clear that they want developed files but only
technically correct… no artistic intent.

If I want to illustrate a point, I will do so with bet-
ter pictures, of course, and the light conditions
are setting the visual quality of a take.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

excluding the evolution aspect,

I meet some very interesting people at the mash
since it is an observation site for the biology dept
of the university. Richard is working there and is
ornithologist, I met him at the marsh. He is the one
that explained me the evolution bit!

The fist time I saw the Gadwall this winter, I was
quite puzzled with the head feathers and the effect
it has on the image. Good shot btw!

 

[Dale.]

Love the Mandarin! Would be even nicer with the full reflection.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Would be even nicer with the full reflection.

A student asked me why I shoot 4+ takes sometimes
of a not moving bird. My answer was that I am hoping
for decent reflections but with water you never know.

It will produce very often some "cartoonesque" images
like here where the bill is way too thick… one cannot
control the water surface.

Thanks for the comment, Dale.

 

[markyboy.1967]

Sorry Daniel but for me they don't hit the mark. Technically i don't like birds looking out the frame, the POV is to high, they look a bit soft around the eye area and the less important rear areaThe cut off reflection although not great is another issue on the 2nd image and as gramps said hey look over saturated even though you haven't added any to the image. You have posted a few better than these in the past so I'm sure you can do better.Your 3rd image is a bit better though.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

for me they don't hit the mark

Fair enough.

i don't like birds looking out the frame

most girds do… even when I tell them to keep
the pose… an authority problem maybe!

the POV is to high

I use to shoot low but I changed my mind on that
with time.

the 2nd image and as gramps said hey look over saturated even though you haven't added any to the image

Yes, I understand that. In this case, it all has to do
with light incidence.

our 3rd image is a bit better though.

In which regard?

 

[markyboy.1967]

In which regard?

Its slightly sharper looking around the important areas although still not perfect, it has very slightly more room, the pose with the bill open, rear end sharper.