Let Me Go

This is an image I took a few years back. I have reprocessed it and decided to post it. It is

not a PS trick. San Diego wild animal park. The duck walked in front of the path of this

African Shoebill. He was just moving him out of the way. For those concerned, he was not

trying to eat him.

What a rare, special sight! A very intresting picture with two very charismatic animals. Beautiful capture!

Mark's capture is really one in million. It's a perfect package of technique and aestheticism.

 

The Dof is excellently achieved with the background blurred out nicely to put all the visual importance on the subject matter.

 

The accurate metering has resulted in perfect colors and captivating details that can only be sought in professional wildlife shots.

 

The contrast is excellent too, having produced a wide range of tonality that goes easy on the eyes.

 

The proportioning of the figures in the frame is precisely accomplished putting those intimidating eye of the pelican in the golden upper right golden spot and the duck on the lower right, close to each other. The closeness has produced grouping of the visual elements that captures the eyes right there in the right 1/3 region of the frame with the viewer's eyes alternatively switching between the

duck and the pelican's fierce-looking eyes.

 

I was caught off guard by the image when it opened on my screen. I was working out an explanation when your explanation ruined everything. Don't do that to your viewer. My wife also staggered in surprise when I tested your approach on her with the same result.

Great Capture!! 7/7

There's something you don't see everyday - wonderful capture (and now that you mention there was no ill will, it's kind of comical too).

Waoooooooo, Excellent moment captured, congratulations Mark

WOW!Superb shooting, great capture!!

 

Thanks all for the comments. I guess I did not want anyone to be concerned that any animals were harmed here :)... so i decided to give the true story to what happened. Mark

I admire your concern for your viewers in that regard too, Mark. Your concern is ethical; mine was photographical. Both are right, so what is the solution?

Great capture!

hmmmm... tastes like chicken....

 

 

great capture, mark.

THanks for the additional comments. I guess i had to balance the ethics vs photography :) Since i was not in control of these animals there would have been nothing unethical about not giving the punchline

Wow, this is incredible! I love the expression on the ducks face. Thanks so much for sharing!

Bravo!

Thanks all for looking

I'm happy to hear that no ducks were harmed in the taking of this photograph. The shoebill looks have a twinkle in its eye as though this is a joke and the look of its smiling beak helps too. Very nice!

SUPERB!

This really made me smile. What a wonderful moment captured marvellously. This is special.

It doesn't get any better than this... Grand Slam!... On top of the great timing, your skill in getting a sharp and detailed photograph... Well Done.

hahaha, this image is sooooo classic. timeless, hysterical, downright heart warming.

Though I don't do much critiquing on photo.net I have looked at many photographs and I just had to comment on this one. It is right up there in my all time favorites. I'll say top 3 and I'm sure I've looked at thousands. The more I look at it the more I appreciate it.

 

I also had my son look at it who cherishes animals ( and owns many ) but I did not allow him to see your explanation of the photo. This is exactly what he said, "Wow, is he trying to eat that duck? What kind of bird is that?"

 

I then allowed him to read your explanation and he said....."shew, thank goodness."

 

So for my son and those like him we thank you for sharing your explanation, otherwise, he may have lost a little sleep wondering what happened to that poor duck.

 

Whichever philosophical side of the fence you're on....surely most will agree that the photograph is absolutely stunning.

 

Very nice work Mark...and congratulations for it making the front page of photo.net.

I hardly ever comment photos, but this one really make me laugh! great capture! I'm surprise that this duck let him do that! cool photo!

Hi Mark, What a fantastic picture. Firstly many congratulations. We have been supplying all the UK media with picture stories since the 1960's. You can find us at www.solentnews.biz/gallery.html. I would very much like to get in touch with you. I believe I can help you with marketing your images to an even wider audience, and we pay very quickly. My email is chris@solentnews.co.uk. With my best wishes and thanks, Sincerely, Chris Balcombe, Picture Editor, Solent News and Photo Agency, UK