Autumn in Scotland

[Benjy]

Caught these two this morning any critique would be most helpful....ISO 200,F5.6,SS 1/25 taken in woods low light...

[Rebel]

Nice capture, the background is a bit too busy though. Draws the eye away from the birds.

[Benjy]

Thanks Matt,background very busy, falling leaves everywhere,comment much appreciated

[FootLoose]

Interesting environmental shot, Benjy. I can see how their bright colours might camouflage them against the autumn leaves.

[Benjy]

Greg,thanks for comment,caught a few shots when they were on bank feeding,they blend in with the leaves.....

[IzzieK]

The birds are very pretty...bird and partner. I agree with Matt's comment about the background being busy. I thought it was my eyes as it very very early in the morning here and I am getting very tired having just came back from a trip. I think you better do a selective blurring of the background here...

[Benjy]

Izzie ,thanks for comment,don,t really know much about processing other than basics,think you are correct about background,it,s very busy

[IzzieK]

Izzie ,thanks for comment,don,t really know much about processing other than basics,think you are correct about background,it,s very busy

Benjy, what software are you post processing with? Just asking..if it is Photoshop there are a lot who can give you instructions on how to...also this website on CiC have an instruction for it too.

[Benjy]

Izzie,got Gimp on pc don,t really know anything about processing just the basics..

[IzzieK]

Izzie,got Gimp on pc don,t really know anything about processing just the basics..

I am sure there is a tutorial in Gimp about blurring the background. Gimp is almost the same as Photoshop...not as powerful but here is one I had googled step by step...

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/tutor...imp-38265.html

Hope this helps...a bit.

[Stagecoach]

That's a colourful duck Bernard, is the plain one its female partner?

As for the background at times you have no choice.

[Benjy]

Grahame,Izzie,thanks for your time and comments,the plain one is the female,I think in most birds the males are more colourful,Izzie cheers for the link I will footer about with it later tonight

[FrankMi]

You can't always control the background when shooting Benjy, but I must say I've been trying to get a shot, any shot of a pair of Mandarin Ducks for quite some time. The closest I've been able to come is their North American cousin, the Woody (Wood Duck).

Glad to see that you were able to capture them. If you can determine their habitat and return, it would be well worth your while to continue to photograph this pair.

[Benjy]

Frank,thanks for view,there are three of them,seemed to be two female and one male at first now two male,not too sure if one was a young male with plain feathers now coloured,they appeared last spring ,never seen them here before very unusual.......

[IzzieK]

I like the last one Benjy...it would help if you put a space between your uploaded shots here...so it is easier to look at..