Red-breasted Merganser hen

[Bill Dix]

Lest the drakes get all the attention, here is a Red-breasted Merganser hen from Ding Darling last November. I would have wished for a few degrees more head turn, but still liked the shot.

D7000, 700mm, ISO 800, 1/400s @ f/7.1 manual, tripod

[Mike Milicia]

Love that water drop and excellent detail!
Agree a better head angle would have taken it up another notch.

[Sachin Saraf]

Bill, Nice high key image with excellent details and love the water drop and messed up feathers...so bad that it is swimming away from you but that is what these skittish birds do all the time :-)

[Karl Egressy]

Nice high key presentation, excellent details and the droplet of water is a nice touch, Bill.

[Diane Miller]

Love the details and the high-key treatment.

Is there more of the reflection? Would be an interesting comparison to include it.

[gail bisson]

I, too, wish she wasn't swimming away from you and for more of a head turn as well.
The water drop is what makes this image unique.
I think that you should warm the picture up a tad,
gail

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Bill,

This one has the whole beak! :) I also wish for a better head/body angle, but you take what you are given.

I don't think the rest of the reflection would add much here, since it's not a clean one.

Miguel

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Swimming away but still very nice. The wave in front and the water drop make it special. I find these best shot from the water being very still :)

[Nick Palmieri]

I like the high key BG and the way the water just sort of fades into the brighter BG. Nice job on the bird.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bill, I like how the colours pop from the high key BG, and yes, the falling droplet adds a lot to the image.

[Satish Ranadive]

Bill Sir:
Wonderful high key image with lovely details and beautiful composition. Love it.

Regards,
Satish.