Hooded Merganser

Gallery: AvianPosted April 6, 2010296 views20 comments

Lophodytes cucullatus

I have not been participating much lately, in the middle of a major home remodel. Hope to be back to participating regularly soon.

This is one from back in November. I found this guy in Forest Park, St. Louis, MO.

50D, 500mm f4L IS + 1.4 tc
1/400, f7.1, ISO 200, partial metering -1/3

All comments and critique appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on April 6, 2010 at 9:35 PM

It is amazing how many birds there are in Forest Park. Nice work on this one.

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on April 6, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Matt,
Way to go! this is exceptional, Great techs, great color. I have been waiting for just such a find.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Pete D on April 6, 2010 at 10:24 PM

These are very handsome birds. I'd like to see the rest of the reflection, but I'm not really a bird photographer. I'm just looking at it as a graphic composition.

Pete D.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 590 Posts, 1794 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 6, 2010 at 10:31 PM

Thanks for the comments so far.

Pete, when processing this, I thought the same thing, I would have liked to have the full reflection as well, however I have no room on the bottom. I should have paid more attention when I captured it.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 6, 2010 at 10:37 PM

Love these ducks!
Very nice image here - good detail, nice reflection, interesting water patterns.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on April 6, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Love it! Tremendous detail in the bird and the water is very interesting too.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 6, 2010 at 11:11 PM

Great job with exposure and detail. Lovely colours in the water too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 6, 2010 at 11:20 PM

Really nice, Matt. I like the detail and exposure. Well done.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 6, 2010 at 11:45 PM

Gorgeous detail, Matt and a wild hairdo!

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 7, 2010 at 12:17 AM

Very glamorous species, adds to the allure of the photo. Good techs, neat water color.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 7, 2010 at 12:29 AM

Now THAT is a hood. Lovely exposure, water color and capture, Matt. No nits from me.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 7, 2010 at 7:33 AM

Wonderful detail in the larger image Matt

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on April 7, 2010 at 7:47 AM

I shot several of these last Nov/Dec and found the males almost impossible to get in bright light without losing feather detail either in white or black. They are slightly easier on a day with some cloud and flash. I think that this one is very good.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on April 7, 2010 at 8:16 AM

I love the puffed out head and yellow eyes. I find these ducks among the most difficult birds to photograph due to their extremely sensitive, flighty behavior. I can't seem to get close enough to get a decent shot. Great work!

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 7, 2010 at 9:04 AM

looks great, Matt. Nice pose, sharpness and exposure, and good looking water. the cut-off reflection doesn't bother me.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 7, 2010 at 10:16 AM

Matt, I really like this. The colors on the water are great. I might run some additional sharpening on bird as the eye looks just a tad off of tack sharp. I might also add a bit to the right and some to the left to get away from the squarish crop. But that is just personal taste.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 7, 2010 at 10:55 AM

A real nice close-up of this species Matt. I too would like to see all the reflection, but this is better than anything i have of a Hoodie.
Good luck with your reno work !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 7, 2010 at 7:58 PM

Real nice Matt. Great exposure and eye contact

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 7, 2010 at 9:01 PM

What a interesting pose and great job on the whites, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 8, 2010 at 8:13 PM

Such a pretty boy! Nice job on the exposure and enough of that wild reflection to keep me happy. Nice job. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments