Redhead

[Mike Veltri]

Redhead
(Aythya americana)

127015
Canon 1Dx - 500mm + 1.4x
1/1250s @ F/5.6 - ISO 1600

Thanks for looking, :S3:
Mike Veltri

[Randy Stout]

MIKE:

The colors are lovely, great shooting angle, sharp, well exposed, nice head angle, soft bg.

Well captured.

Cheers

Randy

[adrian dancy]

Stunning image. I think the blue looks a bit oversaturated but what the heck it still looks great:)

[gail bisson]

This is one superb image,
The IQ, low POV, beautiful light and wonderful silky water make this a 9.9 out of 10!
I wonder if you could pull a bit more detail out of the blacks,
Gail

[Tom Rambaut]

Love the water drops and eye contact. Lovely golden colours. Love the bill with the black tip. May try to bring out some more detail in the black area on chest.

[dankearl]

Just superb, the colors and IQ are off the charts.

[Doug Brown]

Doesn't get much better than this Mike! Low angle, great pose, excellent detail, gorgeous water, and sweet light. Congrats!

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Stunning! Absolutely love it

[stuart wanuck]

lovely and well captured image

[Marina Scarr]

This image just blows me away, Mike. Probably the best I have ever seen of this species. I feel as though I can reach through my monitor and touch a real duck.

Are you using a blind or floating blind of some kind to get this low and close? Do you call the ducks at all to help you get them close or look your way?

[Troy Lim]

Love it...all the points have been mentioned.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Mike, not a thing I would change on this one. Colors and mood are spot on.

[christopher galeski]

Beautiful image,can not add any more ,its all been said.well done.

[Mike Veltri]

This image just blows me away, Mike. Probably the best I have ever seen of this species. I feel as though I can reach through my monitor and touch a real duck.

Are you using a blind or floating blind of some kind to get this low and close? Do you call the ducks at all to help you get them close or look your way?

Thanks Marina, I am wearing chest waders and laying prone in camo. I have two camo sheets, one to cover my lens and the other to cover myself even though I have a camo coat, hat and face shield on. Unfortunately for me there is a small amount of water that I had to lay in to get to the lowest spot for shooting. I love it, my wife thinks I am nuts as my coat gets soaked even with large plastic bags underneath me. Hey it's only muck and water. :S3:

[Mike Tracy]

Wish the bright spot on his bill wasn't there. Best image of a Red Head I have seen.

[Nick Palmieri]

Gorgeous light and colors. The BG is perfect. Congrats on a great image!

[Grace Scalzo]

You inspire me, Mike. Wonderful image. Your field technique must be superb !

[Daniel Cadieux]

Killer fantastic image!! Low angle, light, colours, everything just comes together so beautifully.

[Frank Schauf]

Great light and super capture.

[Lyle Gruby]

Stunningly beautiful shot. You're double camo approach is the same way I have to shoot here in Memphis. My favorite part is how much the water color comments the duck's colors. What a special shot!

[David Salem]

As my 18 year old would say, Totally Sick!! That one belongs on the wall by the entry way:w3

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent low shooting angle, light, IQ & warm colors.

[James Fuller]

One of the best red head shots I've seen, water and colors are gorgeous.

[Mike Veltri]

Thanks everyone for the kind comment, they are appreciated.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mike, brilliant IQ, and the light and colours really stand out in the image. Perfect low angle, and just love the softness of the water. Thanks for sharing your field technique.

[Lorant Voros]

Thanks Marina, I am wearing chest waders and laying prone in camo. I have two camo sheets, one to cover my lens and the other to cover myself even though I have a camo coat, hat and face shield on. Unfortunately for me there is a small amount of water that I had to lay in to get to the lowest spot for shooting. I love it, my wife thinks I am nuts as my coat gets soaked even with large plastic bags underneath me. Hey it's only muck and water. :S3:

I'd love to see a photo of you doing that. And I know the feeling. Many people don't want to get that low and lay in the water and mud. Willing to do that (and loving to do that) gets to to images like this one. I am blown away by this beauty. Maybe the best image I have seen of this species with the low angle and the beautiful colors and light. Can't get much better. Respect, Mike.