stop swimming and start flying ...by
carljacquemynComment by boyd2000: Greetings from the Critique Club
This is a good catch of a very cute duckling learning to fly. I see it's just your second entry. I think it's a good improvement over your first one and you scored well with it being in about the top third.
As one commenter said my initial first reaction was that the duckling occupies too little of the available space and that there is too much blank "negative" space around it. I do get the point of the ripples spreading out from the center, but I feel the picture would have had more impact by sacrificing the ripple effect and cropping for more detail in the duckling. I agree with your comments about not wanting to lose the splashes and not wanting it to be moving out of the picture, so perhaps leaving it with a centered position but cropping some from all sides would help bring out the duckling and get rid of parts that don't add to the picture.
I also agree with the commenters who said it did not meet the challenge. This duckling looks like it's far from quitting. You tried to use the title to shoehorn it into the challenge, but from personal experience I can tell you that rarely works well. This may have worked in another challenge or perhaps the monthly free study, but in the free study you had better have a great shot to have any chance at all. With that in mind you are fortunate to get the score you got.
You did well on the focus and the sharpness with just enough motion in the wings to show the movement was perfect. I don't understand the shutter speed listed as 166.
Keep it up. You're doing great for your 2nd entry. I would recommend you start commenting on other people's pictures. You will find it helps you as much as others. Sometimes newcomers don't feel qualified to critique others shots, but as long as you give honest, non-hurtful feedback it will be fine. Try to keep your comments given and received count in proportion. Your one comment here seemed a little defensive. We're only trying to help each other here. Please PM me if you wish to discuss this critique further.
Photographer found comment helpful.