Yellow-Billed Duck

[Stu Bowie]

I visited my local pond in Pretoria over the weekend, and came away with this Yellow-Billed duck in full flight mode. I realise he is flying away from me, but this was the only time there was any sort of flight shots from any of the subjects there. I have a frame with the full down stroke, but quite liked this ' wrap around ' position.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/5000
F/6.3
ISO 1000

Hand Held

[David Salem]

Yes the duck is flying away a bit but the wing position looks great and it really shows the nice colors of the scapular feathers well. Great study in wing feathers. You can count all feathers from every primary and secondary to all the coverts and alulas. Very nice Stu.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, gorgeous detail and plumage, the high SS has frozen the subject and so it appears to be 'hovering/suspended' LOL, love the fanned out feathers.

TFS
Steve

[christopher galeski]

nice flight pose Stuart,great detail and sharpness,nice light.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely image Stu. I like the wing position and that the bill shows nicely above the wings. Thank you for sharing.

[Richard Flack]

Nice one Stu, like the originality of the pose and the awesome display of wing feathers. I would be tempted to try a different crop though and put the duck top right as opposed to bottom right. (Just feels to me that there is too much empty space above the bird).

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Stu stunning shot with great detail/tones and colors .
Great IQ and lovely processed , great work !!!!
Just wish for a slightly better angle , but nothing you do about afterwards .

TFS Andreas

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for the feedback everyone.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the details, exposure, sharpness and wing position. Nice image Stuart.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

You already mentioned Stu it's not an ideal flight direction, but I kind of still dig it. The detail is really good and if anything, the crop ratio looks a little odd.
The iridescence reminds me of our Australian species the Pacific Black Duck, that has very similar wings, but nothing like the striking bill this one has.
Cheers mate