THEME - "The Undisputed King"

[David Salem]

They are definitely the undisputed king of ducks, at least when it comes to color, even rivaling their cousins the wood ducks. I counted 16 individual colors and many unique feather patterns on this gorgeous Drake Mandarin.
This was captured during the waterfowl workshop that Doug Brown and I put on in the beginning of March. It was a real big success with all of our clients coming away with lots of great flight and portrait images of many different species of ducks, including this Beautiful bonus.

1DX---600mm---f8---ss1/2000---ISO640---HH@4:30pm---15% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous image. Wonderful colors and absolutely superb details you have captured. Bit of lightening the eye (IMH opinion) will enhance the beauty.
Wish it was on the wall of my living room.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Those really are super colours and so accurate too. The exposure is spot on.

[David Salem]

Thanks guys. I'm glad you like the colors and exposure.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Excellent portrait!! A superb array of colours and beautiful details. Perfect techs. I would be happy with a bit more room above and left, but still fine as is too.

[Grace Scalzo]

Nothing but praise from me on this beauty, David. Lovely colors and details.

[mohammad reza shahab]

superb colours and details.nice light.

[Karl Egressy]

Amazing colors, pattern and texture in this portrait, David. Excellent portrait.

[Troy Lim]

What a beauty.


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[Bill Dix]

Yes, a spectacular duck, very nicely presented. Fabulous color and detail. A little tight in the frame but I understand why you've chosen to do so, to show off his gorgeous feather detail. Was this in a zoo or duck pond, or an escapee to the "wild"?

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I appreciate it.

Bill, this is taken a local park pond. There are about a dozen resident wood ducks and this beautiful drake mandarin.
His hen looks almost exactly like the hen woddies.
Must be an escapee from someone's collection I'm guessing.

Many photographers come to visit him regularly.

Thanks again

[John Robinson]

Hi David Spectacular ducks, and well shown in this shot. Great detail. We have them in the garden occassionally and one tried to nest in a disused chimney on the roof last year.
Good stuff
JohnR

[Shawn Zierman]

Surely a King Eider drake in breeding plumage would have something to say about undisputed.... :) Seriously though the colors are amazing, and really pop in this light quality and bang on light angle. Nice sharp details from bill tip through the plumage in back.

[Doug Brown]

Amazing color and light. Had a great time working with you last month!

[arash_hazeghi]

love the pose and details, well done Dave

[Marina Scarr]

Well done on a difficult duck to photograph. Details and colors look great. Love the wave in the front and that dark BG.