First wildlife of 2011 C&C

[Marc-Etienne]

So I needed a little break from my thesis redaction and decided to hit the park next by and shot the ducks that came back since the lake opened. They are very colorful animal and quite expressive especially at this time of the year. The males are not to friendly toward each other. It makes for good pictures.
Feel free to comment and critique

Everything is shoot with a Nikon D90 and a Sigma 150-500mm at F/8 using a monopod.

#1
1/1000s
380mm
ISO 400

#2 First decent in flight bird shot!!!
1/1250s
380mm
ISO 400

#3 Proud little duck! Looks like a creeper standing at the bar looking for which female he'll be going for!!
1/1600s
500mm
ISO 1250

#4
1/2500s
500mm
ISO 400

#5
1/1000s
380mm
ISO 400

#6
1/800s
380mm
ISO 400

#7 Not the most amazing timing, but I really like the deep blue and purple from that angle.
1/640s
500mm
ISO 400

Thanks for watching!

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Nothing I made wrong? Am I getting that good?!:er:

 

[LaFoto]

In my eyes, you didn't do wrong in any way.
If these were mine, I'd be proud.

 

[Davor]

I don't know if it's the lens or your not focusing right but most of the photos the ducks are out of focus slightly. Im guessing your lens is not that sharp at those zooms, with that aside i really like number 4 but wish there was more color to it, the water seems to be very flat color wise.

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Thanks LaFoto! I'm quite happy for a first real try of the year.

Davor, that lens is convenient but it is hard to get super sharp pictures. That is why I absolutely avoid shooting wide open. The water is flat due to reflection of an overcast day. I'll have to go back with bright blue sky for more colors. Thanks for the inputs!

 

[jl1975]

Nice shots! Where in Kingston were you shooting?

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Nice shots! Where in Kingston were you shooting?

The boat ramp at the intersection of Ontario street and King street by the steam museum. The floating ice stuck in the boat launch made for nice shots. You're from Kingston too?

 

[jl1975]

Yes, I'm from Kingston too.

 

[rjackjames]

Awesome shots, Great timing.....

 

[Marc-Etienne]

I decided to follow Davor's inputs and go again. I think I manage a better water texture. The sky was clear and blue giving a prettier reflection than the sad gray. I also tried to stop down my lens a little bit more to see if I can achieve better sharpness. If anybody else shoot with a Bosma, I would like your input on that, but it seems that I achieve the best results around f10-f11. Anyhow, these are the results from my second try.

Better? Sharper? More interesting?

Everything was shoot with a Nikon D90, a Sigma 150-500mm on a monopod with an aperture of f/11 and point metering

#1
1/400s With OS
500mm
ISO 800
Exp Comp -0.7

#2
1/1250s No OS
250mm
ISO 800
Exp Comp -0.3

#3
1/1250s No OS
270mm
ISO 800
Exp Comp 0

#4
1/800s No OS
500mm
ISO 800
Exp Comp -0.3

#5
1/2000s No OS
380mm
ISO 800
Exp Comp -0.3

#6
1/320s With OS
500mm
ISO 400
Exp Comp -0.3

Thank you all for your comments, critiques and inputs

 

[EckoZero]

I love number 3 of the second set.
That duck looks like he's about to go kung fu on you!

 

[FranDaMan]

#3 is my fav from the second set.
Indeed, he is about to open up a can of whoopass

 

[kdeerhake]

Great pictures. I enjoyed both of your sets.

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Thank you EckoZero and FranDaMan! It's always very gratifying to manage to snap the right time. Pretty happy about how that one turned out!
Thanks hdeerhake! I'm glad you enjoyed both!