Pintail Drake

Gallery: AvianPosted April 20, 2010290 views24 comments

This is a photo that has been high on my wish list for many years. A couple weeks ago all the conditions came together and I was ready when the drake took flight (at last).

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Canon 40D, 600mm, ISO 640, 1/3200 @ f6.3

Ken Archer

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 20, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Ken, it's awesome. I really like the soft colors, the water drops and your overall comp.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 20, 2010 at 8:26 PM

It was worth the wait, Ken. Great sense of balance in this image.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 20, 2010 at 8:32 PM

Super image, Ken. Well worth the wait. Phenomenal pose, eye contact and the water droplets puts this over the edge. You also got a great background that complements the colors of the pintail very well. I also like your composition. One suggestion would be to also have the water surface.

Thanks for sharing this.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on April 20, 2010 at 8:56 PM

Looks like your patience paid off. Nice and sharp in all the right places. The back ground really compliments the bird well. Well done!

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Mack Barham on April 20, 2010 at 9:10 PM

Dead Solid Perfect!

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on April 20, 2010 at 9:31 PM

Fantastic! I love these birds and you captured it in great lighting and a great pose.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on April 20, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Awesome shot Ken. Tack sharp and great action!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 20, 2010 at 9:41 PM

Wonderful image, Ken. Perfect pose, light and bg. These guys are one of my nemesis birds and I can imagine how great you felt when you saw this pop up on your scren.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on April 20, 2010 at 10:21 PM

Congrats, Ken, on a great image. Nothing more to add

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 20, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Wonderful shot Ken, love the angle and that's a great bg too.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 20, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Ken, this is a VERY hard species to get a good shot of (at least for me as well) and you handled the situation fantastically! I like everything about this! Bravo!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on April 20, 2010 at 11:07 PM

I'm glad this wasn't your first attempt - it gives the rest of us hope.

Honestly, this is a great shot and you must be thrilled. Even though you visualized the shot ahead of time, there's no guarantee you will execute it when the time comes. But you nailed it!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 21, 2010 at 12:54 AM

Gorgeous shot, Ken. The body is nice and crisp throughout, and to my taste the wing blur is utterly perfect-plus I like their position. I also like the bg in this image. Definitely a wall-hanger in my book.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 21, 2010 at 3:01 AM

A beauty Ken - just the right forequarter perspective, wing angle, pleasing blur to wingtips and lovely background. Sharp too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 21, 2010 at 6:34 AM

Great shot Ken - sharp, perfect wing position and i like the muted range of browns set against the rich brown head.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 21, 2010 at 8:12 AM

It has all been said, CONGRATS !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 21, 2010 at 9:34 AM

no nits here, Ken, this is wonderful. gotta love it when you get one you've been wanting for a while. congrats!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 21, 2010 at 10:36 AM

Very nice flight position.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Vaudry on April 21, 2010 at 2:35 PM

Hi Ken .. this is awesome. Seeing this will keep me at the waters edge a little longer hoping that I can take something like this.

Registered on March 5, 2010, 12 Posts, 53 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 21, 2010 at 5:22 PM

It is an awesome capture!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 22, 2010 at 1:47 PM

oh wow, superb!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on April 22, 2010 at 3:36 PM

Great shot, Ken! Congrats!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 23, 2010 at 2:20 PM

Very nice, Ken! I really like the color palette of this. Glad you got your wish and were able to share this fine image.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 29, 2010 at 6:15 AM

Wonderful shot Ken, wish it was mine.
I especially like the muted color tones & complimentary BG

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments