Posted by Mike Smith on October 2, 2006 at 6:21 PM
Eclipse White headed drake duck, yes the real McCoy, Clot de Galvany reserve, 15 mins from Alicante airport, if you can find it.......
Show pieces of the Alicante region are three red databaook species, this, the marbled teal and the purple gallinule/swamphen.
Lighting was very harsh as I had great trouble finding this reserve, it took 3 days of searching despite decent directions so only had an hour around mid day before I had to get back on holiday duties with the wife! still once found always next spring!
Oly E-500, Nikon 300F2.8 AIS and Oly e-1.4 tc, tripod, ISO 400, Noise Ninja, Olympus raw conversion and 50% crop approx before web resizing
I am not at all familiar with this species, but I think the eclipse plumage is restricted to the bill turning from pale blue to black.
Reference to Ruddy duck is the RSPB penchant to eradicate the UK Ruddy duck to prevent hybridisation with the white headed duck.. not sure if it has ever been proved that UK rudddies actualy fly to Spain to have their wicked way.....the avian equivelent of lager louts?
The subject is a bit too central for me - maybe worth a revised crop. Also it appears to be a bit oversharpened - the water droplets on the beak and back appear to be square - might just be the web resize though...
For me, the harsh lighting is the main drawback, although given the amount of time you had available, at the time of day and lighting you were forced into using, i think this is a decent result {especially as the birds plumage is also of a naturally high contrast}.
Agree a different crop {more rectangular} may suit the subject for some tastes.
Discussion
2 repliesShow pieces of the Alicante region are three red databaook species, this, the marbled teal and the purple gallinule/swamphen.
Lighting was very harsh as I had great trouble finding this reserve, it took 3 days of searching despite decent directions so only had an hour around mid day before I had to get back on holiday duties with the wife!
Oly E-500, Nikon 300F2.8 AIS and Oly e-1.4 tc, tripod, ISO 400, Noise Ninja, Olympus raw conversion and 50% crop approx before web resizing
I am not at all familiar with this species, but I think the eclipse plumage is restricted to the bill turning from pale blue to black.
Reference to Ruddy duck is the RSPB penchant to eradicate the UK Ruddy duck to prevent hybridisation with the white headed duck.. not sure if it has ever been proved that UK rudddies actualy fly to Spain to have their wicked way.....the avian equivelent of lager louts?
For me, the harsh lighting is the main drawback, although given the amount of time you had available, at the time of day and lighting you were forced into using, i think this is a decent result {especially as the birds plumage is also of a naturally high contrast}.
Agree a different crop {more rectangular} may suit the subject for some tastes.
Alan