Incoming Long-tailed duck

[Grace Scalzo]

Had some more fun with Long-tails a couple days ago. I do not find this species to be skittish and if approached slowly, they can settle in and give some nice opportunities.

1/1250, 5 f.6, iso800
Canon 1dx, 600f4 + 1.4tc + rrs tripod, seated low on the beach

[John Robinson]

Thats a real "flaps down " job Grace. Love the facialexpression too !

John

[Randy Stout]

Grace:

A lot of fun, with the gear down, tilt in the frame, detail on the feet, eye contact, all good. Just a bit off center so as to not be too symmetrical (although I don't mind symmetry sometimes).
Soft bg too.

Cheers

Randy

[Sharon Hallowell]

Bravo!

[Bill Dix]

Terrific incoming shot, Grace. I love the dangling long tail and feet. Sharply focused, which can be tricky (at least for me) on an incoming shot. I find it especially tough to track a bif when sitting with a lowered tripod. Nicely captured.

[adrian dancy]

A superb head on flight image and well nailed. Good detail and colour. I cannot imagine this to be easy...so well done Grace!

[annmpacheco]

terrific head on and nice symmetry throughout. really like the feet coloration. BG is sweet. fine work.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Grace I take my hat off! Lovely shot pin sharp great exposure, personally I may have placed the duck slightly more to the right but that is one fine shot, well done!

[gail bisson]

Tack tack sharp! Love the splayed toes.
Not easy to get this shot. Well done,
Gail
PS What is the next frame like? Can you see more of the underwing in that frame?

[keith mitchell]

Agree with comments above Grace, would be thrilled to bits if it was mine.

Keith.

[Grace Scalzo]

Thank you, friends, for your comments. I do appreciate them all. Gail, next frame was the plop into the water and the ones ahead of this one were pancake wings. This was the best of the sequence. All thanks to the wind direction. :)

[Bob Smith]

A marvellous image Grace--right down to the stripes on his toes and the tip of his tail., You have great patience to capture such an instant in time.

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Grace! I like the incoming pose, details, IQ and composition.

[christopher galeski]

Great shot Grace,well sharp,like the water drops on the breast and head.well done.