Wood duck Drake

[Grace Scalzo]

Work has been crushing my photo time lately, but yesterday I needed a bit of fresh air so went to a local pond. Happy to find three pairs of wood ducks, which hopefully will translate into babies later this season. While not tame like mallards, these particular ducks are somewhat acclimated to people and once in a while float by and offer a chance to photograph them. Unfortunately, a super low angle here is not possible, (Lowest possible is about 3 feet off the water) so I prefer to reduce the shooting angle by using my 2.0 tc and catching them when they are not close to the edge.

1/1000, f8, iso800
Canon 1dx, 600f4 + 2.0tc

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Grace, excellent exposure in what looks like great light. Those colours really stand out, sharp, and well done on showing the open beak. You certainly did sort the angle out, and works for me.

[David Salem]

I love wood ducks and this drake looks fantastic Grace. Great-looking head angle with the open bill and I really like the color of water. The techs look perfect and good job lessening the steeper angle. That was worth getting out of the house for a while:S3:

[sasan nejadi]

excellent light and detail ....TFS

[William Dickson]

Fantastic light and exposure Grace and you captured it perfectly. The duck looks great with those feather details. Great POV and HA. Thanks for sharing

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Grace good that you went out to shoot this nice frame of this color explosion :bg3:.
What a nice bird, does look so elegant floating by. Great details and overall very pleasing colors and tones . Well in exposed in some nice light .
Just watch the halo along high contrast edges :w3.

TFS Andreas

[Bill Dix]

Superb colors, great exposure, and a very nice quack. How nice to be able to wander down to your local pond for friendly Wood Ducks. Nicely done.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice shot, Grace. Love the pose with the open beak.

[John Robinson]

Lovely mage Grace. Colours exquisite.
JohnR

[Glenn Conlan]

Love the blues and the many other colors, well captured with the open beak

[Ashley Cohen]

Wonderful exposure and Sharp detail

[arash_hazeghi]

Love the low angle and soft light, the open bill adds more interest. I might go for a tighter crop here

well done

[Girish Prahalad]

some great light has brought out the colors perfectly. great IQ & calling pose.
like the comp as presented.

[gail bisson]

You are the "queen of the 2X"!.
The way you can get your images to be tack sharp with the 2x is impressive!
Love the calling pose and perky pose.
Good IQ and lovely exposure. Whites and blacks look great.
I like your comp but could also see a version with a bit off the top and RHS.
Gail

[Grace Scalzo]

Thanks everyone. I agree that there are several compositions that could work here, and appreciate your suggestions.