Northern Shoveler

Gallery: AvianPosted November 6, 2011216 views9 comments

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Place: Fountain Hills, AZ
Date: October 30, 2011
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
Exposure: ISO 800, aperture priority matrix meter, 1/640th @ f/11, -1/3 ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 81% of frame
Natural light, not baited

Taken in early morning light while waiting for a local rarity to some within range.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 6, 2011 at 1:45 PM

Nice fall colors and a great look at the female of this species. I have a hard time getting close to them so this is really sweet

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 6, 2011 at 7:50 PM

Beautiful water on this shot. Duck is nice and sharp and F11 did well to keep the tail in focus. I saw lots of these at the Hook yesterday. I like the hens as much as the drakes! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 6, 2011 at 8:15 PM

A fun shot to look at big. The water colors are simply gorgeous and go so well with the duck.

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

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on November 7, 2011 at 1:34 AM

Wonderful low angle image. Love the water colors.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on November 7, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Very nice Rich -- and leads to a question -- I'm sure that you had a straightening strategy. On a shot like this without a horizon, shoreline or reflectikon, what did you key on to determine if the photo needs straightening?

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 7, 2011 at 11:44 AM

'm sure that you had a straightening strategy. On a shot like this without a horizon, shoreline or reflectikon, what did you key on to determine if the photo needs straightening?

Mostly just eyeballing the image and deciding when in "looks right." Note that there are reflections - see the vertical marks on the flank of the shoveler and their reflections below the bird. You can also draw an imaginary line from stem to stern and level that.

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on November 7, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Richard, nice lighting on the shoveler & I really like the colors reflected in the water.

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 7, 2011 at 8:29 PM

Wow color scheme, a real eye popper Rich.
LP looks very nice, you have real winner here

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 8, 2011 at 8:29 AM

Love the colors and the detail of the duck. Nice work.

Ray

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