Female Hooded Merganser

[dankearl]

The closest I have ever been to one, about out of DOF and close to minimum focal length, about 10 feet.
She just came floating closer and closer and I waited for the pose I liked.
Almost Full Frame, a bit off the bottom.

1/400, f5, iso1600, 500mm (300 w/ 1.7) D800, HH

DSC_2709bpn.jpg


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(http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=119922&stc=1&d=1350870491)

[Mike Milicia]

Wonderful pose, excellent detail and nice water!
Looks like it could use a couple of degrees of CW rotation.

[Dennis Zaebst]

Superb IQ Dan. You certainly chose the right moment to capture the image. Superb detail, great light and color. VWD!


Best regards,

Dennis

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image.I like the pose,nice details and hairdo.Agree about CW rotation.

Regards,
Satish.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice cute pose and good exposure. looks like the critical focus was on the back with the face and beak running out of DOF. might help to selectively sharpen those areas a bit

[christopher galeski]

nice one Dan,like the color of the water.thanks.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with CW rotation, and more sharpening to the head and face (compared to the breast feathers). Love the coif, subdued light, details. Congrats on getting some closeups of a species that can be tough to get close too.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the shooting angle, nice details, excellent light, great comp, and great pose.
Well done.

[Jack Breakfast]

Very nice look at this gal. To my taste, the bird is too big in the frame. Otherwise, a nice shot of a lovely bird...