Male Long tailed Duck

I have wanted to photograph Long tails for many years and finally got my chance in Iceland during May. This image was taken from a hide that I had built on the edge of a small pond which had supported around five pairs of this beautiful duck. I got many shots but I really liked this one because of how relaxed he was in front of the hide.

Canon 1d MK4, 500mm Lens, 1.4x Convertor, F5.6, 1/1250, ISO 200

Danny

Hi Danny,

Top marks! Their eyes make them look somewhat sinister. I really like the tail and light brown feathers and how they echo the same shape. I think that adds to the composition and the background is fantastic.

Chris

Hiya Danny,

A real corker this, love the dof here, the colour and detail superb. Very nice indeed!!

Fran

Beautiful Danny,

I love the muted foreground and background, the tones in the background and details in the subject.

Excellent.

Cheers

Austin

That half-alert eye really makes it. A cracking shot, up to your usual high standard.

David

Hi Danny,

Great species in beautiful light!

Cheers,

Lewis.

Still ISO 200 Danny Nice one the bird is nicely isolated... I think perhaps a tad more DoF for the tail....

Agree with Chris regarding the eye/brown wing shape on what is a lovely shot.

Phil.

A superb picture Danny and lovley colour's, how are you getting on with the new mk 4 and how dose it compare to the 1ds mk2?

Dale
www.hsfnature.co.uk

HI there stranger. A lovely composition of a beautiful species. Eye caught nicely and lovely background colours. Don't suppose I will see you until the next rut

That's just great danny,bird ,bg,all superb.

Keith.

Up to you're usual high standards Danny, a great POV, showing a lovely bird in a very relaxed, comfortable pose. All credit to you!
Regards,
Paul.

Hello Maggie thats the best offer I have had in years and now I can't wait for our secret meeting during the rut

Dale yes I am loving the MK4 the files are much better and you have to do very little post processing to get them right. I have had problems with focusing in very low light with a 1.4x convertor which the MK2 never did because it always locked on but I have been told that a firm ware update will fix this problem anyone else had this prob?

Danny

Hi Danny

Nice image illustrating your style of picture making. As you say, the duck's relaxed pose adds to the overall success of the shot. Like it.

Re the Mk IV focussing: 500 mm + 1.4x converter is not a successful combination in my experience (or that of two other photographers I know). The hit rate of critically focussed images falls off even in 'good' light conditions and the occurrence of completely unfocussed shots becomes common.
I, for one, hope you are right about the firmware fix, cos unlike you big-earning pro boys, I can't afford to swap to an 800 mm f/5.6 lens

Cheers,
Chris

A typical Danny shot

And typical Danny ISO settings - you got the Mk4 for a reason matey; or does this mean it ain't as good as a D3 afterall

Fine duck I especially like the series of 'curves' offered by the head, the wing and the back.

Looks pretty good although prefer some of the other shots of the same species on your blog.

Ian