Bufflehead

Gallery: AvianPosted April 2, 2011298 views13 comments

We've had a lot of Buffleheads at the Titlow ponds in Tacoma this spring and lately they've been courting and chasing each other around. This is from this morning. I wouldn't mind a little more room in front but after rotating it a bit I don't have any more, although I think the splash helps to balance the image. It's cropped to about 75% of FF.

MkIII 500F4 1.4x 1/2000 F8, iso 640, partial metering -0.7, handheld, AI Servo, center AF point + assist points.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 2, 2011 at 8:37 PM

Congrats on capturing this little guy, Nate. Nice job on the whites. The water splashing behind him is great.

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

Comment posted by Ken Canning on April 2, 2011 at 8:45 PM

Nice action image, lots of motion!

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on April 2, 2011 at 9:06 PM

I think it looks great as posted, Nate. Less room in front allowed more bird + splashes in the image. Capturing one of these little fellows in flight is a real accomplishment: they are so fast and so white! This is a beautiful action shot. I even like the little wing blur for showing how speedy is this action even at 1/2000 s.

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 2, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Super shot. The low angle is excellent and the two splashes from the feet make it sing.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 2, 2011 at 9:58 PM

More room would be great but the shot is great regardless. I'd love to get this "running on water" shot myself. Great exposure and sharpness

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on April 2, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Nate, Great image! I am impressed that you can track these guys. I have been trying to get a good shot of one of these males for two months and I am using a 300mm. The one sharp image I captured had the whites blown out. Don't you just love their antics.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 2, 2011 at 10:41 PM

Great action shot. I can feel him working to get off the water.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 2, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Wonderful image Nate :^) Just recently I saw some pictures of Coots running on water that I liked very much, so this one hold great appeal to me. Other than the excellent detail you managed to freeze in the subject, I also love the frozen droplets of water rising up of the wake but particularly those falling from the subject's chest and belly :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 3, 2011 at 12:55 AM

Persistence pays off again! Killer photo Nate

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 3, 2011 at 6:09 AM

Fantastic Nate. Agree with your comments re the splashes. fantastic detail and sharpness. One suggestion? - I initially thought there was movement blur at the end of the bill but it is only an oof ripple in the background. maybe remove it?

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 3, 2011 at 6:50 PM

I love the way you've captured both feet disturbing the water as he rotates airborne. Very neat capture Nate.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 3, 2011 at 8:44 PM

Super shot. I love this capture of the take off action.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 3, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Good one, Nate. I like the running start you have captured here. Nice job on the whites.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments