Here's a shot that I wouldn't post in the Avian galleries because of the subtle but still visible Hand of Man - the potting soil at bottom of the picture and the fact that this mallard decided to make her nest in a concrete planter of the golf course I live near. However, this image does make a very nice post for Mother's Day.
These nestmates are here about 18 hours old and only a few hours from being led away from this nest by their mother to the comfort of a nearby pond. I was taking this shot from about 6-7 feet away with a telephoto while the usual stream of visitors to the golf course were walking by her nest only 2-3 feet from her and her batch of young ones.
So, for all Mom's viewing this - Happy Mother's Day! (tomorrow, that is)
20D, 70-200 + 1.4x at 280mm, 1/125 @ f11, ISO 400, ff
(ps: If anyone has neglected to buy a card yet for tomorrow and like this image, email me and I can provide you for free with a higher res version to print on card stock).
Rick - the ff is a bit strong. I'm still learning how to use flash as I'd just bought a 580ex and it really is my first experience with other than natural light. So, I hope you'll make allowances for that. And, as you say, it's not for gallery presentation but just a Happy Mother's Day announcement...
Posted by Ned Fenimore on May 14, 2006 at 12:21 PM
Nice, Geoff - I'd give it two thumbs up on the cuteness scale!
Discussion
8 repliesThese nestmates are here about 18 hours old and only a few hours from being led away from this nest by their mother to the comfort of a nearby pond. I was taking this shot from about 6-7 feet away with a telephoto while the usual stream of visitors to the golf course were walking by her nest only 2-3 feet from her and her batch of young ones.
So, for all Mom's viewing this - Happy Mother's Day! (tomorrow, that is)
20D, 70-200 + 1.4x at 280mm, 1/125 @ f11, ISO 400, ff
(ps: If anyone has neglected to buy a card yet for tomorrow and like this image, email me and I can provide you for free with a higher res version to print on card stock).
I'm wondering if maybe a bit less fill flash would have helped here? The flash to my eye is a bit strong and superficial looking.
Although my mom would LOVE this image so what da heck eh??!!
Happy Mother's Day to all our mom's browsing the forum!!
Rick - the ff is a bit strong. I'm still learning how to use flash as I'd just bought a 580ex and it really is my first experience with other than natural light. So, I hope you'll make allowances for that. And, as you say, it's not for gallery presentation but just a Happy Mother's Day announcement...
Cute image. The mother seems to be quite fat. Her head seems to be popping out of her belly.
I hope you don't really think that's her head! If it were she'd be like Beetlejuice (you've seen that movie, haven't you?)