Common Goldeneye

[Mike Lentz]

While I was out the other day looking for images during a snowy day, I came across a smallish area of water that flows out and churns up Gizzard Shad and the Eagles and Ducks make quick work of them. Was laying on my belly over a bunch of large rocks quite contorted and uncomfortable.

http://www.pbase.com/mike_lentz/image/106803652.jpg

Nikon D300 ~ 300mm F/2.8 with 1.4x TC attached
ISO 500 ~ 1/500 sec ~ F/4 ~ center weighted metering

[Harold Davis]

well worth your discomfort!!! love the mood. the snow is really a cool addition here. may crop a little off the bottom?

[Steve Maxson]

Harold took the words right out of my mouth, Mike. Well done. Open water is pretty scarce up here now.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the mood and angle and agree regarding a tighter crop. Does it need a bit CCW rotation?

[Lance Peters]

Gorgeous - well done worth the pain - agree would crop some off the bottom.
Snow puts it over the top :)

[Stu Bowie]

Lovely low angle, and would also take a bit off the bottom. Yep, a slight CCW would do it. Still, well captured Mike.

[Steve Maxson]

As a followup comment, I would disagree about the need for CCW rotation. As the bird is swimming forward, it is pushing a bow wave in front of it giving the water around the front of the bird a downward slant from front to back. The ripples trailing behind the bird look pretty level to me (I didn't measure them). :)

[Mike Lentz]

Thanks, Steve! I level everything in CS3 so I should get it right... but I do make mistakes. I looked at that over and over and didn't see the need either so it will probably stay the way it is level wise. Anybody else think it needs rotation??

Thanks for the comments guys!

[Raymond Barlow]

beauty Mike., the refection looks straight down to me., excellent shot.