It's just a duck

[toddbartush]

I would like some opinions on the composition and exposure on this shot. It was taken mid-day with bright sunshine over my right shoulder. I've already cropped to remove part of a second duck, and to move the eye according to the rule of thirds. Only PP was boosting the contrast a little.

Would you clone out the shadow or leave it?

I realize the shutter speed was pretty fast...is the exposure okay?

Correct ISO? I'm still leaving the ISO setting at auto because it's the thing I understand the least. : )

I realize it's not a brilliant photograph, but I'd still like to learn from it.

Thanks!



EXIF:

Canon SX130
f/5
1/1000 sec
ISO 200
Focal length 47mm

[Jim Poor]

Rather than clone out the shadow, I'd crop it out as well as remove a good bit from the right.

There's no such thing as "correct" ISO, but given the bright conditions, there is no reason to have gone any higher.

Compositionally, I'd like to see a lower camera angle - on the ground. This would help throw the BG out of focus a bit more. Also, the transition line in the BG cuts right through the head/neck area and getting lower would have solved this too.

Why f/5? If the lens is capable, f/4 or even wider would be better to isolate the subject from the background.


Finally, a little pop of fill flash would have brought out the eye & dark head a little and allowed for a darker exposure of the background.

[toddbartush]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Rather than clone out the shadow, I'd crop it out as well as remove a good bit from the right.

There's no such thing as "correct" ISO, but given the bright conditions, there is no reason to have gone any higher.

Compositionally, I'd like to see a lower camera angle - on the ground. This would help throw the BG out of focus a bit more. Also, the transition line in the BG cuts right through the head/neck area and getting lower would have solved this too.

Why f/5? If the lens is capable, f/4 or even wider would be better to isolate the subject from the background.


Finally, a little pop of fill flash would have brought out the eye & dark head a little and allowed for a darker exposure of the background.

Thanks for the feedback. I considered cropping out the shadow but really wanted to include the blue on the wing. I'll play around with it anyway.

I actually tried a lower camera angle. In that case, the background would have been split because the concrete ended just beyond the top of the frame. The transition line you mention would have been worse. In this case it didn't quite work.

I believe f/5 was as wide as my camera would go on that zoom level, but I may be mistaken. I seem to remember grumbling about that at the time. : )

I never even considered using a flash in this bright of light. I'll try it both ways next time.

I appreciate the comments. I'm glad I was on the right track on a few points, but still could have done some things differently. This was more of a learning shot than anything, and mostly because I couldn't get close enough to any of the males. ; )

-Todd