The Most Common Duck

[dankearl]

Obviously Mallards and the females always seem to outnumber males.
I think they are even more attractive than the males, muted and very pretty to me.
1/320
f5
iso400
440mm (300f2.8 w/ 1.4 TC)
sb-600 flash fill used at twilight.

DSC_1026.jpg (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=99585&stc=1&d=1314675180)

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Lovely low angle, clean fg and bg. Very nice image.
I'd move him a bit to the left in the frame and remove the red eye (probably from the flash).
Nicely done.

[Ron Sprunger]

A very lush, rich image. I love the subtle dark ripple, the warm saturated colors, and the fade-to-black BG. I would like to see a little more space in front, and/or a little less at the bottom. You might consider removing the specular highlights -- I know they're water droplets, but seem to be mirroring the flash and don't really show as water. It's a fantastic picture. Well done!

[Tony Whitehead]

Good low angle and flash worked well to pull him from the dark BG but have created the specular highlights in the water drops which should clean up easily. Good suggestions above. I would crop from below and move him a little to the left. They are beautiful ducks. The reason females seem more common is than when in their eclipse (non-breeding) plumage the males look similar. This bird's yellowish bill and chestnut chest give him away as a male :)

[Alan Murphy]

Love the low angle and the dark BG. I would remove the hightlight from the flash (or place it higher)