Drake Cinnamon Teal

[David Salem]

Captured this about a week ago at a local wildlife refuge. These ducks are pretty spooky so I slowly crawled closer every time he started preening and then froze when he stopped to look at me. Wound up at full frame with a 500mm.

1DMKIV---500mm---f7.1---ss1/1600---ISO 200---HH@4:00pm---Full frame w/added canvas on left

Thanks as always for looking and for your input

David

[Doug Schurman]

I live it. Nice head angle and sharpness. Only thing I might like better is if it was taken in a little softer light. This looks like pretty direct mid day sun.

Cinnamon Teal are great looking ducks.

[John Cooper]

This is one very handsome duck David - love that red eye! and congratulations on your stalking technique.

[David Salem]

Thanks for your comment Doug. This shot was actually taken less than an hour before sunset hence the catch light low in the eye and no shadows. Thought the subject was evenly well lit. Maybe a bit bright? Not sure.

[Doug Schurman]

David, it may just be me. In Seattle we don't get much direct sun :(

You could try lowing the lowering the highlights a bit to see what you think. The foot and toes might be a bit bright.

However these are really small nits on a reall nice image.

[Randy Stout]

David:

A spectacular duck, one we don't see posted on the site very often. Excellent eye, shooting angle, colors, sharpness.

My first thought was, a smidge bright, and I agree with Doug that just a bit of tweaking of the luminosity might help, but all and all, excellent job.

Cheers

Randy

[Tim King]

Nicely done. I really like the deep blacks in the wings, and that eye...

[David Salem]

Thanks Randy and everyone for the comments and suggestions. Here is a re-post with the highlights toned down a bit and a couple points reduced on the luminosity. Also increased contrast a few too. What do you think?

[Randy Stout]

David:

I like all the changes, except the contrast increase.

Randy

[arash_hazeghi]

very nice I like the rusty colors and the details. is the eye so red in real life?

very cool

[David Salem]

Thanks Arash for the comment, and yes, the eyes on a mature drake cinnamon are this red. They are one of the most unique ducks as far as color goes. This shot shows a little of the wing color but with the wing extended the blue against the rust is beautiful.

[PhilCook]

Liking the repost a little better, but I liked the original as well, light may of been strong, but I find that helps show the sheen on plumage better, handsome looking duck and the low angle is great

[Daniel Cadieux]

Look at the colours on this handsome duck!! Great job with the fieldcarft, and funny you describe that as I just did the same yesterday with a resting Wood Duck! About your adding canvas (which is well done): when we can get close we sometimes get carried away with the bird becoming too tight in the frame, I know, I've been there Unless you are going for tight portraits sometimes its best to just keep a distance and room around the subject. All-in-all a very fine photo, and a neat experience to look back at!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, love the colours on this fellow, and that red eye really stands out. Good low angle of capture, and good job with the canvas extension. Repost looks good too.

[David Salem]

Thanks again guys for the nice comments. Daniel, Yes I am totally guilty of this practice. I enjoy the stalk and the challenge of getting close so allot of times I find myself closer than need be for a proper crop. Hard not to want to get closer and when I realize that I am getting too close so I start working on the close portrait shot.
Sometimes its not the kill but the thrill of the chase:)

[Peter Dexter]

It's a great capture of a very hard to get close to duck (I've tried here in Colombia and never got near as close). What I really miss in this photo is some space at the bottom. It feels very cramped to me. Beautiful sharp detail on head and beak. Would like to see the photo specs.