Greeting the Dawn

Gallery: AvianPosted February 8, 201657 views6 comments

Hi all! Been laid up in recovery from surgery (had to get a bad gall bladder removed) and it threw a wrench in my plans for a return trip to BC for owls and waterfowl, so I thought I'd dig through some more from last year's outing.

This is a handsome mallard drake spreading its wings as if to greet the dawn breaking over the trees and hills at the east end of the lake.

Please note this has been cropped to approximately 90% of full frame and a large piece of debris has been cloned out from the upper right.

Thanks in advance for your comments, critiques and suggestions! Please view the larger version if you have time for best quality.

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Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED
ISO 400
1/2500sec @ f/5
-0.33 stop underexposed from meter
Mounted on FEISOL CT-3372 Elite tripod with Acratech GV2 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick
Slight crop from full frame

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on February 9, 2016 at 7:48 AM

Classical pose, however the light adds a lot here. Nicely positioned in the frame as well. In short, an image that works very well for me ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on February 9, 2016 at 11:13 AM

Good use of a silohuete and the light through his wing feathers is magical. Nicely done.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 9, 2016 at 2:22 PM

Hello John... Well done!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 9, 2016 at 4:52 PM

Nice silhouette shot, John, and the backlighting on the primaries is excellent. The patterns in the water add interest without being distracting. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 9, 2016 at 10:31 PM

Sorry to hear about the surgery, John. Hopefully your recovery will be swift. I really like this silhouette with just hints of the lighter tones showing in the Mallard. The water is gorgeous and the pose really works well.

devil

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

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on February 18, 2016 at 11:35 PM

Love the colors and quasi-silhouette, also the way the the bird is placed in the frame.

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments