Female Wood Duck

Gallery: AvianPosted October 4, 2011130 views9 comments

Aix sponsa

Birds have been pretty slow around here lately, so I went to a local park that usually has a few Wood Ducks to test the limits of my new camera. I was extremely impressed how well it held up to this crop.

1D MkIV, 500mm f4L IS +1.4 tc, tripod
1/2000, f5.6,ISO 500
38% of full frame (6.2 of 16mp)

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on October 4, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Matt, while most of my friends like the male wood duck, the female is my second most beautiful duck just behind the Gadwall. I love the female's Cleopatra eyes and you have captured her very well. I hope to achieve and image this good when I head out net week to one of our local parks that have wood ducks. Great job.

Skip Harris

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 4, 2011 at 9:26 PM

Excellent detail, and I love the texture of the water a lot, Matt. Just having the head reflection clear really works-I never would have considered it.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 5, 2011 at 12:39 AM

It's lovely water; the reflection of the leaves is excellent. And it's a very lovely photo of the subtly beautiful Wood Duck hen. But the two just don't seem to work together for me. It's technically excellent; probably just my aberrant color judgment...

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 5, 2011 at 6:46 AM

A great shot Matt. I know you will love your new Mk. IV. It is a serious camera that does not disappoint very often if set correctly for the type of shooting you are doing. Have fun with that new body.

I love this shot. Great sharpness and nice detail. A testament to the spot on focus and tracking in the original. I like the water too. Well done.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 5, 2011 at 5:57 PM

Beautiful colors in the water. Very nice image.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 5, 2011 at 8:19 PM

I like this very much Matt. Bird, head reflection and water colors are wonderful and I like them in combination.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Matt,
That's an impressive 6.2 mp for sure. Glad you like your new camera. Image isn't bad either. Love the beautiful swirling fall colors reflected in the water.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 5, 2011 at 9:40 PM

Beautiful image, the water is great. Nice details on the Wood Duck.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 7, 2011 at 4:10 AM

As much as I like the lady Duck and the detail you've managed to acquire even with such a large crop, I have to say that most of all I love the reflections and colours in that marvelously swirling water. Excellent capture Matt, you should be very pleased with this one!

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