Long-tailed Duck

[Bill McDonald]

Locally, we have probably thousands of over-wintering Long-tailed Ducks that are congregating in many of the open water sheltered areas that are close to shore. I spent an hour or so yesterday getting some much needed practice with flight shots near the Lift Bridge in Hamilton, Ontario. This photograph is of a female LTD as it comes in for a splash down.

5D3 + 500 f4 Mk2
1/2000
F8.0
ISO 800
Minor adjustments in Lightroom

C&C welcomed
Bill

blog: grenfell.weebly.com

[gail bisson]

Nice and sharp. Whites look good.Great wing position.
I would add a touch of contrast to the duck- appears a bit washed out to my eye.
I would also take some off the top.
is there anyway to get to water level at this location? It would really strenghten the image if you were lower.
Gail

[Miguel Palaviccini]

I agree with Gail's comments about adding contrast and trying to change your viewing angle by getting lower. This looks like a bit of a large crop?

Great wing position, really showing how ducks take full advantage of ground effect ... or in this case I guess it would be water effect :)

[Bill McDonald]

Many thanks for the comments ... as I look at the pic again, I agree that some contrast would not go amiss, but getting a lower viewpoint at that particular location would be a challenge. The location is along the side of a channel that ocean going ships pass through, so deep water directly off the dyke ... I would need a wetsuit :)
Bill

[Karl Egressy]

Nice shot, Bill. I'm waiting for a sunny day to go back to that place.