Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

[Josh Clark]

Whenever I am in Ocala Florida I try and make it a point to photograph these guys. This was taken at a private residence in Florida. Pretty regular visitors at this location during the summer months. Always fun to photograph. Came away with lots of portrait shots. I liked this one in particular because it is different from the norm. The neck trails off into the grass because the duck was on the backside of a down slope from a hill giving the image this appearance. Thanks for looking and C&C is always welcome and appreciated.

Canon 7d, 1/1000sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200, 500mm f/4L, natural lighting at 6: 57pm
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

[Ofer Levy]

This is fantastic! Love it!

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Great detail, very nice colors, and good choice of crop. Well done!

[Jack Breakfast]

This is a nice style of bird portrait. Well executed, I say! Appealing light and nice detail, zippy catchlight in center-of-eye, and I like that I can see texture in the greens...

[Melissa Groo]

Love this disembodied head floating in the green. Wonderful, unique portrait, Josh. Great colors, exposure, detail, comp.

[denise ippolito]

Josh, I love the artistic look to this. The grasses are lovely. Nice job!

[Marina Scarr]

Loved this one from the moment I saw the thumbnail. It's not only artistic, but unique.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Josh, just love these type of images with the subject blended into the surrounding foliage. Excellent all round detail and colours on the head, and just enough of the neck and head showing. An opportunity well used. I actually like this lots.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Excellent Josh!! Love everyting about this image...especially the faint textures in the grass. That bill stands out beautifully. Way to go!!

[Doug Brown]

Fantastic Josh! Way cool!

[Marina Scarr]

PS: I was just thinking that if you also captured this in vertical, it could look pretty interesting.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Absolute beauty. Waaay to go, Josh. wouldn't touch a thing. the subtle texture in the grass is awesome. perfect HA and exposure. what a shot...made my day.

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Josh! I like the IQ, details, HA, exposure and composition.

[Jim Buescher]

So nice to see something different and done so well! You took full advantage of a great opportunity.

[dankearl]

I agree with all the raves, very unique and nice vision on your part to get this.
Well done.

[Frank Schauf]

Perfect, with great eye contact, Josh.

[arash_hazeghi]

this is awesome, love the artistic effect created by the vegetation!

[Randy Stout]

Josh:

Just wanted to chime in. A unique and well done portrait, really catches your attention!

Cheers

Randy

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hey Josh. I really like this idea. The duck totally stands out with great color and detail. I am curious if you had to blur any of the bg?

[Josh Clark]

Hey Josh. I really like this idea. The duck totally stands out with great color and detail. I am curious if you had to blur any of the bg?

Hey Cheryl. The BG is as it was captured. I had enough distance between myself and the subjects BG that it created a nice BOKEH for the most part, even though I shot wide open. You can see some soft blades of grass but I think it kinda adds some texture and interest to it. Thanks for your comment and thanks to everyone else as well. They are much appreciated.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hey Cheryl. The BG is as it was captured. I had enough distance between myself and the subjects BG that it created a nice BOKEH for the most part, even though I shot wide open. You can see some soft blades of grass but I think it kinda adds some texture and interest to it. Thanks for your comment and thanks to everyone else as well. They are much appreciated.

Really nice work Josh.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful image. Just love it!! Excellent details and comp.
Well done.

[Lorant Voros]

This is over the top. This is what I call artistic bird photography. Hat' s off.