Lesser Scaup drake at super-low angle

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

40D. 400f5.6L at f/6.3. iso 400. 1/1250s. bean-bag support.

For small ducks, if the water isn't too choppy, I prefer going below the eye level as it gives nice BG blur and gets the colors from the opposite bank on top of the frame.

All comments welcome.

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful shot, Kaustubh. I love the soft water and bg melding together. I photographed some of these guys last week, but conditions didn't allow me to get this low. It makes all the difference.

[Clemens Vanderwerf]

Kaustubh,

I like the low angle (way to go) and the soft clean BG.

Rgds,
Clemens

[Andrew Merwin]

A beautiful BG that compliments the duck admirably. The POV is such that it looks like you were in the water with the duck. Were you?

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

A beautiful BG that compliments the duck admirably. The POV is such that it looks like you were in the water with the duck. Were you?

No, on the bank. I always try to find spots where i can go as low as the water level :-)

[Doug Brown]

Impressively low angle with great eye contact and sharpness. I'd prefer blacker blacks.

[Glenn Abuja]

Nice work!
Good angle.

[Peter Farrell]

Low angle definetly makes the difference. Great detail in the blacks.
Peter

[Ben_Sadd]

The two tone background really makes the bird stand out beautifully. The low angle makes the image in my opinion.

[Harshad Barve]

super low angle and pose here , BG is killer
TFS

[Mark Young]

Love the low angle and eye contact. Does it look like it needs a slight CWR?

[Bhushan Dalvi]

KD, your are getting better with each of your duck shots. Love the low...low angle on this one. The eye contact along with the smooth two tone BG works very well.TFS.

[Sid Garige]

Great shooting angle and excellent exposure KD. Great job.

[Troy Lim]

KD, stunning shot. Love it.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

I like to go as low as possible as well but never achieved such perspective. What did you do? Go snorkeling and have your rig head-mounted? :)

Sharpness, exposure and composition are just lovely, especially love the transition from the blue water to the "tan-green" top.

JR

[Craig Brelsford]

I feel wet. You've put me right in the water with him.

[James Salywoda]

Stunning Image!!! Excellent low angle I love the head turn and beautiful background and its tack sharp well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Kaus, lovely soft light, and you have brought out the colours very well - both on the duck and the BG. Great HA, sharp, and your low perspective has taken this to another level. Great capture.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

I like to go as low as possible as well but never achieved such perspective. What did you do?

JR

JR, all I do is try and find a spot on the bank where I can get down to water level...with light behind me. I use a simple small kinesis bean bag. I like it because there are two straps that change the shape of the bag....from flat to u-shaped. I find it very usefuly to control the shooting angle....which is very important to give you the BG control. Whether your lens is 4 inches over water or 8 inches makes a big difference. I have recently purchased the skimmer pod and a ball head to go with it.... but havent used it much yet. Without support I find it hard to have that control. Especially, when you are lying down a bank that is sloping down at a 30deg angle :-)

Thx everyone. I have a lot of shots like this...but unfortunately only of the common species. My reach falls very short for the buffleheads, pintails, teals, hooded mergansers etc.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Killer Duck pic KD.. bring them on:)

[Amol Khedgikar]

Fantastic shot KD!

Where was this? By the pelicans or las colinas?

[Mike Fuhr]

WOW! WHat a great image -- exposure, lighting, etc. is right on!:)