Handsome Dude (with the image this time :))

[Arthur Morris]

I photographed this drake Surf Scoter at Bolsa Chica Lagoon the day before the San Diego IPT started. I had an appointment with an acupuncturist/exercise kiniseologist in nearby Santa Ana.

I used the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/11.

To see two killer head portraits of this bird, click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/01/18/i-know-him-pretty-well-and-surf-scoter-image-questions/). To learn how I rolled a 1.4X teleconverter into the Pacific Ocean, check out today's blog post here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/01/26/long-lens-depth-of-field-question-and-a-tc-in-the-pacific-tale/).

Don't be shy; all comments are welcome.

[Andrew McLachlan]

The head portraits from your blog post were indeed killer. Love this capture too! Nice that you were able to get him in close. The scoters that I have seen on Lake Ontario always stay well out in the lake.

[James Salywoda]

As good as it gets with this gorgeous species "I know I know" you wish you could of gotten a lower angle right? The spot where I go you can lay down and get everything duck species wise except Surf Scoters....

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks both :) Yeah, the only place I have ever gotten these guys good is from the boardwalk....

[James Salywoda]

Your lucky to have gotten this as the numbers wintering here have been lower the past couple of years.

[Arthur Morris]

Lucky and thrilled :).

[denise ippolito]

Beautiful exposure and I love the calm water and reflection. I may have preferred it a little more to the right of the frame but it's a wonderful image and I wish it were mine.:S3:

[Ofer Levy]

Light, detail, sharpness and pose - all look good to me. Just wish for a lower shooting angle.

[Arthur Morris]

Light, detail, sharpness and pose - all look good to me. Just wish for a lower shooting angle.

Welcome back. Diving off of the Bolsa boardwalk is not permitted :)

[Sid Garige]

Awesome looking Dude Artie. Great techs and wonderful comp.

[Craig Brelsford]

A lower angle being impossible in those circumstances, I can't see how this shot could have been any better executed. You might, however, have chosen to display a photo in which the wake hasn't yet marred the reflection, as in your killer head shot on birdsasart.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Craig, The wake is what the wake is :) When everything is right, I down create multiple images asap. I think that I kept one other from the series. I will check....

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Artie, terrific exposure here. For reflection shot, this angle is excellent. Water texture is what makes this so good...and of course the species. Loved it.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Artie, great bird and killer pose. Would have prefered a lower angle, but it is what it is... :S3:

[Arthur Morris]

KD, I was juiced when the early breeze quit.

All, a lower angle would have been loverly and I love the intimate look, but lower = less or no reflection :) And as they say, a boardwalk is what a boardwalk is. Also, no sun angle with the boardwalk.

All that said I would love to be at eye level with any duck any time :) To see five loverly water level duck images check out this recent blog post: Sunny Sunday Morning Duck Exposure Primer (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/01/24/sunny-sunday-morning-duck-exposure-primer/).

And click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/01/07/help-needed-with-outdoor-photographer-article-title-with-image-lightbox/) for a link to a lightbox with my all time favorite down and dirty images. Lastly click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/01/13/op-article-title-thoughts-and-thanks-more-on-the-lens-align-mark-ii/) to learn of the great title that Paul Mckenzie came up with for my upcoming Outdoor Photographer article.

[Pieter de Waal]

Hi Arthur, what an amazing looking bird, never seen this species before, particularly found the head and beak pattern striking. Like the image and particularly the way you managed detail in the blacks in that strong light. Read the accompanying tutorial on your blog and have lots to go and practice, thanks:S3: