CT/GWT Hybrid Bathing

Gallery: AvianPosted January 18, 2011196 views17 comments

I just thought this was sort of a fun shot. Because of an atypical dark "ear patch", knowledgeable folks I've contacted think this bird is a Cinnamon Teal/Green Winged Teal hybrid which is apparently quite unusual (you can get a better look at that patch on my post of this bird in my gallery dated 7/18/10). Because of a bright floating stick above the bird, which I cropped out, my composition here is a little unusual for me. There's a layer of water over the head and eye that has had it's effect there.

7D, 1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 5/30/2010, reduced highlights in ACR, cropped to 48% of original image, sharpened bird and some of the droplets, no additional processing or adjustments, not setup or baited

Larger image provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 18, 2011 at 7:10 PM

Nice action captured here Ron. The outstretched wing, stopped water, and wide opened red eye are captivating, but the water colors steal the scene for me.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 18, 2011 at 8:08 PM

Really fun action shot here Ron, especially the duck head thru the water. Nice and sharp on the wings. Pleasing comp.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 18, 2011 at 8:24 PM

Just love this shot Ron. You know me and ducks. The colors take the cake in this one along with the action. Who could not love that eye looking at you from under the water. Sharp and great detail. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 18, 2011 at 8:43 PM

Ron, this is very different than your other posts and nice to see something different form you (of course that does NOT mean there is anything wrong with your other work, just neat to see people step out of the box). I like this behavior shot quite a bit. The flying water adds to the intensity in which he is bathing and the red eye is what makes it for me.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 18, 2011 at 8:44 PM

Great action and the eye to boot!

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 18, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Great action Ron! Really like that mostly submerged head, with the red eye just above the surface. You're right, a very enjoyable shot here

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 18, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Hi Ron :wavey Your fun action shot is a splashing success

The colors , bubbles and detail are great. That red eye makes me think of the daffy duck cartoons

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 18, 2011 at 9:48 PM

definitely a fun shot, Ron--great behavior and I like the water on the head and flying droplets. The comp does feel a little funny to me, I might try taking some off the bottom to even it out. Interesting bird too--I'll have to check your gallery when I have a higher speed connection.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 18, 2011 at 10:24 PM

Great action, Ron. Nice job freezing all those drops and excellent dof.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on January 18, 2011 at 10:52 PM

An odd duck, doing something odd....and perfectly executed as always. The submerged head is killer.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 18, 2011 at 10:55 PM

I love that eye showing just above the water line, Ron. The water splashing around is nice as well. Very nice behavior shot.

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

Comment posted by David Williams on January 18, 2011 at 11:33 PM

Nice, deep colors here, Ron. Certainly not a typical shot, but good nonetheless. Wing colors help make this one for me.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on January 19, 2011 at 6:26 AM

This almost has the pose of a human doing the crawl. The head and eye position really make this for me Ron. Also like the water droplets and lovely colours. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 19, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Ron,

You know I love this shot and it was pretty awesome for us to find this uncommon hybrid. Great action, sharpness and details. I like the comp you used, the splashing water and the nice look at the eye despite being covered in water. Excellent

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 19, 2011 at 10:20 AM

Love the action. The eye visible under water makes this image for me.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 19, 2011 at 5:11 PM

Ron, this is cool. At first glance I see an almost worried look in the eye and then a wing that seems to struggle, when all the time I know from your post it's a bath.
Very interesting image, with of course great techs. Like it a lot.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Very cool... I much prefer other shots of this bird on your blog as the head looks a little OOF on the larger version - but it certainly is unique and you stopped the action well. Good find.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments