Long-tailed Duck in Flight

[Grace Scalzo]

This will never happen again. When I get to my location I always set my exposure so that I am ready for action. Did that, then walked toward the jetty where I saw long-tails milling about in the wind and waves. All of sudden, this one took off. I just plunked my tripod down, aimed in the direction of the duck (didn't even have the camera to my eye ) and fired off a few frames. Two were sharp. Crazy, right?

1/2500, f8m iso800
Canon 1dx, 600f4 + 2.o tc

[Karl Egressy]

Your camera and lens are well trained. Great flight image, Grace. I guess they are leaving very soon and the weather doesn't want to cooperate around here.

[Marina Scarr]

Wow, Grace, this looks like a 3D image. Killer wing position and light. Love the hint of wave in the lower left.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the sharpness, wing position, wave, exposure and composition. Sounds like your shooting has become instinctive!

[David Salem]

It sure is good to be lucky, or I think it should be the other way around :) What a great looking grab shot Grace. Having your exposure pre-set was smart and it looks like you nailed it perfectly. Looks like it's really cooking across the water. Love the comp too.
Is this an immature drake or a hen? Well done

[Richard Flack]

Wow Grace, what a superb shot! Beautifully exposed and awesome setting. well done!

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous image. Superb flight pose with fully raised wings, great details, beautiful droplets and composition.
Love the cool colors in the frame.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Grace this is excellent, the plumage detail is outstanding.

[Girish Prahalad]

outstanding result for the way you shot it. great exp , IQ, wing position & colors

[gail bisson]

Love the grab shot! On the fly got you a bird on the fly!!
Out LTD's are quite brown and this one looks quite black. Interesting...
Perfect wing position and great IQ.
Well done,
Gail

[Grace Scalzo]

Thanks Everyone. David, my best guess is that this is a hen. There is alot of variety in the non-breeding plumage of this species, and sometime hard to tell them apart. Gail, my monitor was recently calibrated and my duck looks brown to me, albeit a rather dark brown. Wonder what you are seeing?