Touchdown at 6400.

[dankearl]

Since I have a cooperative Hooded pair at my local pond, I went today in crappy light
and got what shots I could get. They may be gone anytime.
This was the end of a flight sequence at Iso 6400.
I figured I would just go for SS and not worry about IQ.
Here is the result.
This is about 60% of full frame.

1/4000, iso 6400, f4, 420 mm (300 w/ 1.4 tc), D800, Handheld.

DSC_4746bp.jpg (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=124396&stc=1&d=1359944357)

[Dennis Zaebst]

Really cool shot Dan. Love the water splashes, the head-on perspective, and the (almost) astonished look on the merganser's face, as if he is almost out of control on the landing. I like it a lot! Very good IQ, even NOT considering the 6400 ISO! Nicely done!

[David Salem]

Cool head on landing pose with the water splashing. Being able to see both beady yellow eyes is nice. Exposure looks good as do the details. Cant believe how good that 800 performs in the ISO and IQ department. Nice work

[Lyle Gruby]

Love the shot. Really wish I could have one just like it! Great incoming pose. Looks like you need a little CCW, really impressive IQ for 6400.

[Marina Scarr]

Not bad considering the high ISO and the HH. I would crop some off the bottom.

[Sandy Witvoet]

This image totally cracks me up... in all the right ways! Action, unique pose, water droplets ROCK and, "in your face" touch-down! Would take out the blur on the bottom, which is a bit distracting. Being "head on", might work if centered(?), with a teeny CCW rotation? Superb capture on a duck that's darn near impossible to get in ANY position!