Lesser Scaup Portrait.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I've been wanting this image for a while now - a Lesser Scaup tight vertical portrait in early morning light. I've got lots of nice looser portraits and neat swimming head-on images over the last few years but this is what I was after. We only see them in their breeding plumage for a few weeks in spring before they move on further on migration, and with the limited time I have for photography the window of opportunity is small. All came together this past weekend though!

Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1600s., f/7.1, ISO 800, natural light, handheld while prone on the ground at the edge of a pond, small rotation then cropped the corners - otherwise FF. Audio used.

[Michael Thompson]

Nice job getting so close to this often skittish bird! I like the subtle colors and feather detail.

[Alex Becker]

Great job getting so close here. I like the detail and nice pinks against the light blue sky. Eye looks great as does the catchlight. Congrats on getting a shot you've been thinking about for a while -- always a good feeling. TFS

[Juan Tolentino]

Excellent portrait Daniel, I love the expression, super sharp eye, BG and DOF used to have the whole face in focus. Excellent image. TFS.


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[Gabriela Plesea]

This is superb, Daniel.

Beautifully exposed, perfect DoF, love the HA and expression from the subject. Cannot take my eyes of those purple iridescent feathers:)

Superb PP work as always, thank you so much for sharing!

Kind regards,

[gail bisson]

I love your comp and the perky neck and head position!
Great IQ as always with beautiful details in the feathers,
Gail