Ring-necked Duck Dancing

[Isaac Grant]

I photographed this Ring-necked Duck doing a courtship dance today at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island, New York. We had a good snow storm and a deep freeze and the ponds were mostly frozen so I was finally able to get close to this guy. Thankfully he was still there and also busy displaying. Turns out that there were no females around so maybe he was just practicing.

Canon 1DX and Canon 500f4ii +1.4xiii. ISO 800, F7.1, SS 1/2000

Converted in DPP 4.5. In PS I cropped, adjusted highlights and shadows, sharpened and applied NR with Neat Image.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Interesting pose showing the chestnut ring around the neck not often seen in a Ring-necked Duck drake. Not sure if you have more room in the frame, if so I would loosen the crop. To me the duck feels tight in the frame. Thank you for sharing, Isaac.

[John Whaley]

Wonderful lighting and colors with tack focus and fine detail. I like the calm water reflections.

[William Dickson]

Well captured Isaac. I can see why you would want to show it big in frame. The detail you have captured is very nice. I also like the pose on the bird, with great detail around the nice HA. BG fits perfectly.

Nice one

Will

[Daniel Cadieux]

Ooh I love this! Although I do not love winter, I do love it when cold snaps freeze the waters except for small accessible open pools like you got. Great view of the "ring", and the pose is pretty cool. Great textures and lines to the water. I'd love a bit more room at right, perhaps you do not have it....

[Isaac Grant]

Thanks. I do have room. Actually as shot this has the bird almost perfect in the frame to leave more room to the right. I cropped that area out because to me it is all about the pose, especially since it is not looking right, but more up and right. But I could see a version with more room as well.