Shoveler Shake

[Bill Dix]

This handsome Northern Shoveler drake had just clambered onto the bank, and gave his head a good shake before settling down for a rest.

D7200, 1.4 TC, ISO 800, 1/2500s @ f/8 manual.

[Grace Scalzo]

The shoveler is perfect, exposure spot on and all his colors showing so well. Droplets are a bonus. As for that bank, quite a mess! Tell the bugger to get out at a cleaner spot next time. :)

[adrian dancy]

I'm actually OK with the background. I do a lot of urban stuff and look for backgrounds that many here would not even take the click. I do so on the basis that photographs in my view should educate and inform not just look arty...just my stance. The bird here is excellent and the drops of water make a nice touch.

[Randy Stout]

Bill:

I think the combination of his expression and the cloud of drops is pretty funny. Beautiful exposure.
The background is a bit on the busy side, but he does have quite good visual separation from the overall bg.

Cheers

Randy

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image in habitat. Lovely colours on the handsome drake. Water droplets looks beautiful.

Regards,
Satish.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

He's a beauty you captured well, Bill. Great water shading off his shaking head. The foreground and BG look quite good, for what we had to work with.


Geoffrey

[Daniel Cadieux]

Quite a beauty!! I love the flying water drops. I agree the BG is busy, but I kinda like the overall look. What are those? Pebbles?

[Bill Dix]

Thanks everyone. Yes, Daniel, they look like pebbles. The Shoveler was on a small island in a coastal NJ pond. I'm guessing the island was man-made, so the pebbles may not be naturally occurring, although I've seen similar ones elsewhere along the Jersey shore.