Duck Departure

Gallery: AvianPosted November 28, 201797 views4 comments

A Gadwall Duck leaving the tide flats at the Old Valdez Townsite, Valdez, Alaska. This is my favorite of the flying duck photos I was able to get this last weekend. There's a narrow time band just after noon this time of year where you can get some decent shutter speed for in-flight duck shots. I knew there were a few hundred ducks at the tide flats so I made sure to be there when the light was right. Shooting flying ducks is just like skeet shooting except that you hold the trigger down the whole time you're panning. The ducks were very shy and I couldn't get as close as I would have liked so this image is a 55% crop. One of the things I like about this shot is the colors. The background mountains with brown vegetation and patches of new snow made for color coordinated colors.

Best viewed large!

Sony a6500, FE100400GSM @ 400mm, ISO-500, f/5.6, 1/4000, Hand held.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 29, 2017 at 5:41 AM

You've captured this perfectly, Gary! The wings are all the way down, showing great detail and really sharp.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on November 29, 2017 at 4:41 PM

Fine job on the detail and wing position. I like the background.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 29, 2017 at 5:35 PM

Beautiful detail in the duck and I do like that background, Gary. You might add a touch of light to the head to make it stand out a bit more.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 2, 2017 at 4:37 PM

That neutral background sets off the ducks wing colors well here Gary, nicely captured! devil

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