A Ducky Sunset Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hi I took this almost 10 months ago in early spring in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The water we have is called the Reflection Pool and when it's not windy out you can see where it gets its name from. I didn't increase the saturation or do anything to the colors and that is exactly how the sunset looked. I just rotated it, added some contrast and sharpened it after re-sizing for TE. I took quite a few of those ducks in various poses but this was my favorite one. As I recalled I zoomed in a fair bit to get the ducks closer to the bottom of the shot and get rid of a lot of empty space. I think it was taken around 6pm.

ChrisJ, aloyho, alford, deblink, ramesh_lalwani, alejandroguzman, PixelTerror, john_c, Tue, lilimih33, alvaraalto, Didi, Jeppe, jhm, Emile, danielswalsh, papagolf21 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

plimrn (19558) 2007-01-18 22:10

Hi Steve,
The gleaming reflection in the water is wonderful. The ducj and classic Lincoln memorial silhouettes really make this much more the 'just' a stunning sunset.
Sorry I'm slow to respond, my internet access has been lacking. HLJ, Pat

Cormac (26449) 2007-01-18 22:28

I like the composition of this a lot! The high horizon and the frame filled with the reflections off the water makes for a beautiful scene. I like the symmetrical look too, which I think makes it seem more peaceful. Great work Stephen, and it's good to you posting regularly again.

bakes888 (18055) 2007-01-18 22:51

Hi Stephen. Great photo. You have created a nice depth in this shot with your composition. The colours are great and the ducks add that all important foreground interest. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

gravatar (1538) 2007-01-18 22:57

Excellent colors and lighting. Perhaps a bit to symmetrical, but that isn't always bad.

devimeuxbe (55673) 2007-01-18 23:17

Hi Stephen
You have captured a beautifull light and the gold colors is beautifull. Of course the 2 ducks are a nice touch.
Well done
BErtrand

hello_ishan (1571) 2007-01-18 23:18

Hi Stephen,
You have captured the sunset scene very nicely. The golden sky & its reflection in the water look amazing. The silhouettes of the trees on both sides also look good. Inclusion of ducks is a great idea. Tfs.

Srinivasan

aloyho (6105) 2007-01-19 0:34

Hi Stephen,
The real attraction of this shot is the radiating movement caused by the concentric ovals surrounding the ducks. It breaks the calm and silence of the whole scene while the orange gave the energy to make it appealing. Well done!! Have a nice day.

alford (3897) 2007-01-19 0:50

Ducky? Now that's a new way to describe your beautiful sunset shots, Stephen! I like the colors, and the fact that you've got 2 interesting elements to complement the sunset - the Lincoln Memorial and the ducks! rgds.

deblink (2548) 2007-01-19 1:09

Hi Stephen,
This is a lovely shot. The colours are magnificent and the water looks like silk. The ducks are certainly an added bonus. Glorious.
Cheers,
Debbie

ramesh_lalwani (3209) 2007-01-19 2:19

Hi Steve
Nice Dusky shot of Lincoln memorial.I remem your earlier post with brighter light.Good reflection Ducks are wecome addition
ramesh

fayeulle (26541) 2007-01-19 2:58

Hi Stephen.
I see you like aso ducks ;-) Nice colors and clarity.
Cheers
JP

ChrisJ (69588) 2007-01-19 3:30

Hi Stephen

Good symmetry of the ducks, with excellent graphism & silhouettes. Superb color & reflections, with good use of diminishing linear perspective to add depth. Tfs!

danyy (68040) 2007-01-19 3:32

Hello Stephen,
beaucoup de poésie par les lumières et les couleurs, de tendresse par ces deux canards et de tranquilité par ce plan d'eau coloré à la surface d'huile.
UN cadrage un peu centré mais qui équilibre lumières et teintes.
Best regards.
Daniel.

alejandroguzman (4672) 2007-01-19 5:01

Hello Stephen:

Very nice and warm composition.
I really like the lonely ducks in the foreground (where were the rest of the ducks at that moment??? ) ... LOL ....

I have no luck as you to have this kind of SKY when I was in DC.:-(

TFS
hugz
Alejandro

PixelTerror (86032) 2007-01-19 5:03

Hi Steve,
A pleasant rendering of the water colored by the setting sun and good depth provided by the ducks, the sides look a bit empty to me, did you consider a vertical framing here ?
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

carper (64130) 2007-01-19 7:22

very nice atmosphere shot here,Stephen
good photo job, fine pov, good quality from the shot, well seen and good job.
gr. jaap

feather (49848) 2007-01-19 11:08

The colours are stunning and the reflections beautiful. I love the wide perspective with the memorial at the end. The addition of teh ducks is the icing on the cake.
Kath

nwoehnl (118) 2007-01-19 14:07

A nice take, Steve. In addition to the vivid sunset colors and the well-included duck silhouettes in the foreground, I like the way in which the vegetation on either side of the frame provides this sort of funnel that leads the viewer's eye right to Lincoln Memorial in the back. Good shot.

cunejo200 (7157) 2007-01-19 16:30

Hi Stephen,
The water is so beautiful - looks like a mirror. You do justice in taking pictures of WAsh D.C. scene. Lovely colors, so crisp. And who would not want to visit D.C. after seeing this image? Cheers! Danilo

Tue (25608) 2007-01-19 17:17

Hej Stephen,
I think Reflection Pool is an excellent name for this water! I love the reflections here and the distortion of them. The colours of the sky are great and I like the silhouettes of the trees and the Memorial around the Pool. The ducks are a very nice bonus. Well done, thanks for sharing!
Hilsen,
Lars

alvaraalto (5227) 2007-01-19 18:50

Hi Stephen,
Although the ducks seem to be not very impressed by the beautiful sunshine, are they equally responsible for the extra qualities of this great picture.
Groet Rob

john_c (24635) 2007-01-20 3:59

Hi Stephen,
Very well composed and you did well to position the ducks in the immediate foreground, with the one duck busy with his beak...The natural lighting here with the gentle ripples and fine reflections come together nicely to produce a peaceful ambience. I like this one very much, Stephen. Congratulations...later.
John

lilimih33 (9870) 2007-01-20 5:51

Hello Stephen!
Greta composition with a wonderful colours, sharpness and refexion! Good point of view!
Excellent done!
Lili

...tomorrow... :)

Didi (35760) 2007-01-20 7:30

Hi Stephen
The ducks give an interest point on the foreground.
The composition is well completed by a nice perspective until the monument.
Nice reflections on the water; I think if you wait few minutes to have the illuminated monument in the twilight.
Cheers.

coco (27604) 2007-01-20 7:51

Hi Stephen.

Well done with the exposure. The light looks fantastic, beautiful, and the silhouettes of the ducks make more touching the photo.
As you can see, the reflection of the light over the water is always an interesting element.

Regards.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2007-01-21 6:19

very nice work here, I liek the coplours in this photo, very nice work indeed, well done

Jeppe (18623) 2007-01-21 12:26

Hi Stephen

You got a fine combination of sunset colours and silhoettes on this - I like the composition as well - nicely spotted indeed.

Thanks for sharing
Jeppe

jhm (81731) 2007-01-21 12:51

Hi Stephen,

A lovely contrast picture, the red sky together with the fantastic reflection make this dark picture very attractive, the Ducks are the really eye catchers, very well done! TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Emile (19807) 2007-01-21 19:52

Hola Stephen.
Beautiful sunset with nice sky colors and an excellent reflection. love the way we see the silhouette and the two ducks. Very good composition, very well done.
TFS.

MikiM (1916) 2007-01-22 1:45

Hi Stephen,
Very well composed Ducky shot. I like the centered composition with the big biulding at the back and the two small ducks in the front. Its contrast plus the changing colors makes this image quite unique.
Thanks for sharing!
Miklós

jemaflor (38871) 2007-01-23 7:12

Hi Stephen,
Great light and reflections, well captured and good choice for the composition with ducks to give life at this beautiful sunset.

danielswalsh (13297) 2007-01-23 20:30

Ah yes.... now here's that posting you were mentioning. I like this angle much better then the previous one (since deleted) Steve. This angle with the reflecting pool allows more light and color as presents the Lincoln Memorial better (I think). The addition of the ducks is what finishes this shot off nicely as they add 'life' to the image.

Well done Steve,
- Dan

papagolf21 (55990) 2007-01-26 5:07

Bonjour, mon ami Stephen,
Tout est dans la suggestion, la composition mêle avec habileté les ombres, les couleurs, le coucher de soleil merveilleux.
Le premier plan avec les canards dynamise superbement la réalisation.
Très belle prise de vue.
Amitiés.
Philippe

quantabeh (5203) 2007-02-12 17:21

Hey Steve,
I like your Lincoln Memorial shot. The colors are very beautiful , and of course the two ducks add so much depth to the image. looks like a very peaceful moment.
nice shot.
B