Wood Duck Drake

Gallery: AvianPosted July 25, 2010228 views16 comments

Here's a drake Wood Duck from Ft. Steilacoom County Park in Lakewood taken last spring. I got down on my stomach by the lakeshore to get a low angle here. The light was overcast but that helped preserve the detail in the whites, it also made the other colors more subdued. Cropped to about 75% of full frame.

MkIII 500F4 1.4x 1/500 F7.1, evaluative metering +0.3, lens rested on ground.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 25, 2010 at 3:37 PM

The angle is great, Nate. Also, I can see that if the subdued light really helped the detail in the whites. It also makes me realize that the white on the bill is really white and not just the result of a reflection. The open bill adds more interest too.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on July 25, 2010 at 3:40 PM

Nate,
beautiful and neat portrait. I really like the open beak and the low angle is super.

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 25, 2010 at 4:15 PM

Very nice Nate, open beak adds alot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 25, 2010 at 4:56 PM

Very nice work with the whites of this wood duck Nate, the detail there is great. I like the open bill, the head turn and the wonderful low angle you achieved.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on July 25, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Beautiful shot, Nate, great low angle portrait. I like how you managed the colors of the Wood Duck that usually are presented very strong and too much saturated.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on July 25, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Great low angle and tack sharp image Nate- love the vivid colors and the open bill.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on July 25, 2010 at 11:28 PM

Awesome low angle Nate!

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on July 26, 2010 at 1:12 AM

A wonderful portrait, Nate. Really nice exposure and pose with the open bill.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 26, 2010 at 8:34 AM

Hi Nate, As others have mentioned the POV is great. I really like the more subdued and diffuse lighting here from the overcast sky. Not only for the whites which are great but also better able to see some of the more subtle shades in the colored areas.

Peter

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 26, 2010 at 10:55 AM

This is excellent - pose, angle, light! Just me, but I'd have preferred a smooth BG in this instance.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on July 26, 2010 at 1:20 PM

Wonderful low perspective and great pose.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 26, 2010 at 6:07 PM

Nice low angle and head turn Nate

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 27, 2010 at 3:11 AM

He's a beauty Nate!!! Great head position too!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 27, 2010 at 4:07 AM

I really like his expression Nate, and the low perspective.

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on July 27, 2010 at 5:09 AM

Great low angle, Nate. Well done!

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 28, 2010 at 8:43 AM

So refreshing to see the colors looking good and no blown whites at the same time on this species Nate. And I really like the open bill and good look at the tongue.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments