Red Breasted Merganser

[Jon Swanson]

In the spring, we often get these close to shore in the middle of the city where a small drainage flows into the lake. It is fun to see/hear them do their breeding display. D3s, 600VR, ISO44 1/1250 @ f10. I was unable to get any lower due to the waves obstructing the bird at times.

[David Salem]

Beautiful shot of one of my favorite ducks. The colors, the raised crest, the red eye and the comp are great. Nice detail and exposure too. Very well done.

[Bonnie Block]

Really lovely image, Jon. Love the detail in the crest. Good work on the whites—these guys are not easy.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the composition and the colours the detail is excellent, whilst I do not think the whites are burnt out I think I would be inclined to lower the brightness just a little. I note the much quoted bow wave and it also looks very good, adding a sense of movement.

[Karl Egressy]

Beautiful shot, Jon. Love the colours, exposure looks perfect and love the details.

[Marina Scarr]

What a stunner!!! Love the colors, all the great details. Not sure whether you can eek any more details out in the whites but I love this capture so much, not sure I care.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

IQ and colors are just stunning Jon. Love how the duck is sitting atop a small wave. This is a perfectly executed duck shot.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Details, colours (especially the rich blues), low angle...all top notch. Funny to see the tail up, they more often than not skim them along the surface.

[Randy Stout]

Jon:

Striking colors, water, sharp, good shooting angle. If you have it, I could see a sliver more room in front.

Cheers

Randy

[Ivan Ellison]

What a lovely image, great colours, sharpness and low angle. The crest is esp nice. May just have removed the lower catchlight and the very small speck of white on its bill. Another shot I would be pleased to get.- I can only hope.

[Jon Swanson]

What a stunner!!! Love the colors, all the great details. Not sure whether you can eek any more details out in the whites but I love this capture so much, not sure I care.

Hi Marina,

I tried a couple different things to get more details out of the whites with no success. They are quite a ways from blown and I believe it is just that these feathers perhaps don't have that many details due to being compacted at rest or I need a new idea for white details extraction. I am a willing learner so any ideas I will try.

And thanks to everyone for their comments :)

[PhilCook]

My bottom jaw just hit the desk !......Stunning in so many ways !!!

The detail in the crest is a real eye catcher { needs a comb lol }

[Tim King]

I like the crop, it's such a long bird too. A nice detailed and well exposed photo, Jon.

[Shawn Zierman]

I believe it was said of this image, (or another of yours quite like it), from a prior post in another forum...that it was the best image of this species,
or at a minimum, among the very best of this species, that has surfaced on the web, and I quite agree! A delightful image of this species Jon!

[arash_hazeghi]

this is sweet, love the low angle, excellent colors, low angle and sharp details! just wish for a tad more detail in the whites!

[Sachin Saraf]

Jon what a sweet capture...love the low angle, colors, sharpness and details on bird...whites look on edge but overall this is superb image