Wood Duck

Gallery: AvianPosted March 7, 2012161 views13 comments

March 4, 2012 Irvine Regional Park
Nikon D300 Nikkor 200-400 1.4TC f/10 1/320 ISO-500
-.03 step 550 mm 29.9 m Aperture Priority White Balance Auto
Tripod with Wimberley Other than the 50% crop, there is no color adjustment or other processing.

This was taken on the same outing with the Mandarin Duck Harry Harris posted earlier. This is the first time I had the opportunity to see, much less photograph a Wood Duck. The light was good and they were fairly close.

Comments welcome

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Carlette Bragg on March 7, 2012 at 6:01 AM

Very nice capture of a Wood Duck for your first time! Colors are great. I also like the reflection and the coloring of the water. I have not had a chance yet to observe this beautiful duck, but I am going to continue to try to get him checked off of my life's list of birds. Great photography!

Registered on March 19, 2009, 76 Posts, 387 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 7, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Wood ducks are very beautiful birds and you have done a nice job showing that with this shot. I really like the swirling green and turquoise water. I might have tried for a slightly lower angle if possible. Overall very nicely done.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 7, 2012 at 4:26 PM

Excellent job Patrick, also super comp. and love the water!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 7, 2012 at 6:11 PM

The water color makes this a unique shot of the species. I'd try a slightly warmer white balance on this to make the duck's colors closer to normal.

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

Comment posted by Jake Dingel on March 7, 2012 at 6:59 PM

nice shot, I like the eye reflecting in the water. IMO looks like the image may need some rotation.

Registered on April 24, 2006, 34 Posts, 633 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 7, 2012 at 9:24 PM

The greens and blues in the water are a perfect compliment to the wood duck. Nice eye contact. May be a touch saturated.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 7, 2012 at 10:17 PM

Patrick,
Very nice image of a beautiful duck. Glad you and Harry were able to get some good keepers. The water color is very pretty but I like Rich's comment about a slightly warmer tone to the image.
Was Eric with you guys as well? Hope to shoot with you this weekend. Nice job Patrick.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 8, 2012 at 1:16 AM

This is the actual color. It is unchanged and not saturated. The only adjustment was the crop.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 8, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Attached is another shot from another angle with a different background and different light. Same species in two different parts of the lake taken minutes apart.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 8, 2012 at 11:53 AM

Nice shot and i am with Richard.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 8, 2012 at 2:14 PM

What a wonderful opportunity to find this. I like how the color of the water reflection adds to the image, nice job on getting this difficult shot, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 9, 2012 at 12:52 AM

Nice and sharp and I like the water cool here Patrick. I agree with warming up the color balance a bit.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 12, 2012 at 12:57 PM

My favorite duck and well done. For first time shooting woodie you got lucky. They do not like people.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments