Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica)

[ppaaoolloo]

Hi Romy,

I am having trouble deciding how to edit this photo and would like to ask for your critique concerning the colors and how to equally emphasize the water splash/droplets and the bird. I am planning to enter this in a photo contest whose theme is 'Bubbles and/or Droplets'.

I intend to print this photo of the Philippine duck onto a 8 by 12 inch photo paper. I know the 16:9 ratio doesn't match the photo so I will put black borders on the top and bottom.

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 800 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Exposure Bias: +2/3 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode: Spot

Original RAW export is below.



Below image is what I did to liven it up.



Many thanks for your time.

[Romy Ocon]

Hi Paolo, this is a tough composition job because the bird is flying out of the frame. I'd compose it similarly as you did on the second photo, but I'll keep all the original canvas to the right, and make it as a 3:2 aspect ratio even if I've to include the OOF grasses in the FG at the lower portion of the frame.