Spectacled Eider

Taken in Barrow, Alaska at 12:30AM. Amazing light at that time of night.
Isn't this a great looking duck?! I just love him.
This was the most elusive eider for me. Only had one good opportunity to get images on the water and on the tundra. He flew away from us so I was unable to get any flight shots.
Perhaps I can use that as a reason to go back to Barrow!
Canon 1DX and 1.4x
SS 1/2000 f 6.3 ISO 800
PP: Crop to 75% FF, cloned out grass on right side of eider that was quite tall, levels, DE at 3 % to eider and USM to JPEG
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

Killer light, gorgeous species and lovely environment. Love the pose and the eye contact. A workshop with Matthew sounds like a lot of fun!

Amazing light indeed, and amazing duck. Great shot, Gail, with beautiful layered BG, lookback pose and tundra environment. An eider I've never seen. Someday, maybe....

What an image. It says so much. Well done Gail :S3:

Great image of this Eider species, Gail. I know from other photographer's posting that it is extremely hard to approach them.

SH, EXP, image design, and IQ are all fine. Please do not take this personally but that is the ugliest Spectacled Eider that I have ever seen.... At best the bird is in faded, worn breeding plumage and is molting as well.

nice light and layered BG,good POV,beauty is in the eye of the beholder,and I am sorry have to agree with Arthur,thats one ugly duck,but thanks for showing.

The light quality is superb. I enjoy the background layers, and your shooting angle isolated the subject and the grassline in the fg nicely. It's a sweet species! I wonder if this particular one just doesn't look a little dirty and wet around the neck and back areas, and maybe it's a younger male that does not have the rich full breeding colors yet...? Regardless, I'd love to have made this image.

It really sounds and looks like you had a very productive trip! My first thought was that the duck looked, umm, dishevelled at best...but any Spectacled Eider would have a rightful spot in my files:S3:. Nice light, low angle, head turn. I also like the colour stripes in the BG.

You've taken lemons and made lemonade here, Gail. Not a pretty bird, but they aren't all pretty and you've managed to capture something special b/c of the stunning light. I would take a sliver off of the left.

I am heartbroken that you all think my baby is UGLY!!!:bg3::bg3::bg3:
Seriously, thanks for the comments.

Hi Gail,

I have no experience with this species so I cannot comment how does it look. The light, color and BG are beautiful. The tundra atmosphere looks so good! Like the composition and eye contact too. Great shot! TFS. Cheers! Miro

Maybe not in the best shape, but it is indeed a spectacled eider, well photographed and would hold a prominent place in my portfolio, were it mine. Great habitat, light and background as well.

Excellent light, details and bg.

Beautiful setting with layered BG. Pose is great but the bird looks a little worn. That's nature for ya!

I know this was a hard-earned image. Great colors and head turn here.