Bufflehead Flight

[Doug Brown]

I just got home from Southern California where I co-led a duck workshop with IOTY winner Dave Salem. We had a great time and got some really nice frames to boot! Here's a shot of a Bufflehead drake in flight; these birds are really fast and the exposure can be somewhat challenging. I usually go for 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop of blinkies in the field when I'm photographing these guys. You need the extra exposure to bring out the details in the head.

Canon 1Dx, 600 mm II + 1.4x III, f/5.6, 1/3200, ISO 500, manual exposure, hand held

[David Salem]

What a cool looking frame Doug and what a great workshop we just had. The gods blessed us with Beautiful weather and plenty of ducks to shoot. Everyone came away with some fantastic frames, that's for sure.
This is not an easy duck to get as we know. They're fast and fairly unpredictable so Great job catching this guy. As we talked about the exposure is perfect giving good detail on both ends. Great head color and flight angle and nice eye contact and I like the pink feet all wrapped up in an Nice green background. Great job and look forward to next year.

[Ian Wilson]

Super capture Doug, whites and blacks nicely managed, wonderful eye-contact. Just a touch too big in the frame for me but that is a matter of personal taste. Regards, Ian

[Grace Scalzo]

Fantastic detail throughout, not easy with this duck. Pleasing background color and great show of that beautiful head. Unless you've photographed these speedsters, you can't appreciate how difficult a shot like this is. Well done, Doug.

[Joe Subolefsky]

These little guys are tough and you nailed it from the visible pupil, the head sheen all the way back to the detail in the legs.

[Jonathan Ashton]

There isn't much wrong with this one Doug! Super pose, background, and excellent focus.

[Derek_Lauzon]

Very nice shot Doug, great background and details.

[Marina Scarr]

Quite the impressive frame, Doug. Great wing position, light and BG

[Binu John]

Fantastic shot, Doug! These guys are small and fast and not at all easy to photograph in flight. You nailed the focus and exposure! TFS

[Bill Dix]

Pretty amazing capture of this difficult bullet. Great in all respects, although I, too, wouldn't mind just a bit more room around him.

[Kirk Benson]

Superb capture Doug.... in fact, this is as good as it gets for a Bufflehead IF.
Love the wing position and HA... exposure, color, detail are all spot-on... and a terrific BG.
Excellent work!

[gail bisson]

So, so hard to get these speed demons in flight. I appreciate the technical savvy and skill to get this shot!
Gail

[Doug Brown]

Appreciate the comments everyone!

[arash_hazeghi]

love the pose, details and the wing position