Preening Long-tailed Duck

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Photographed at Barnegat Light in relatively low light earlier this week. These guys look way too cute. :)

http://www.pbase.com/axelhi/image/121016933/original.jpg

1D4, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/500s, f/8, EC +0.67, ISO 400

[Don Lacy]

Wonderful soft muted colors on the duck, very well composed with the placement in the frame and the eye contact. Normally I am not a big fan of grey water but it works well here complimenting the colors of the duck.

[Daniel Cadieux]

The eye is simply captivating! One of my favorites of yours of this species. I love the swooping white feather on the wing. If anything I wouldn't mind a bit more room below.

[Stu Bowie]

Axel, you sure got your monies worth with these guys. Ive enjoyed the series so far, all different. Cool preening pose, and well done on the exposure with the whites and the blacks. Great work.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Axel....best of the lot IMO. Loved the pose a lot. Viewer's eyes dont leave the frame and the tail feathers take it over the top.

[Ted Willcox]

Love the composition and the posture of the bird preening. Beautifully sharp. Nice exposure, lots of detail in the whites. The two little feathers hanging from the right side bug me a bit, but they are part of the bird. Well done
Ted

[Joe Senzatimore]

Wonderful image of a great looking species. You have done it justice. Might take just a bit off the right side.