Northern Shoveler

[Dorian Anderson]

As unbelievable as this might sound - and given the abundance of this species in the Bay Area from November to April - this is my really nice first on-water shot
of this bird! I have a few equivalently-good flight shots from Southern California, but I've never been able to get close enough AND achieve the clean fore/backgrounds
that characterize my shots. So, yeah, I was really happy with this frame. It was long overdo given how much time I spend shooting waterfowl.

I was very happy to get a suggestion of the blue wing patch and touch of the bright orange foot!

Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX2
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 640, handheld
Processed in LR CC without trickery

[Bill Dix]

You have good reason to be happy with this one. Beautiful shot of this drake in all his finery, and lovely water color. No nits from me.

[John Mack]

Great view of this shoveler. Love that green water it compliments the bird very well. Detail looks quite nice as well.

[Colin Driscoll]

A masterful shot, I very much like it all including the couple of Peacock looking feathers.

[Anthony Barsotti]

Pretty much as good as it gets in my book, that shade of green really works well with the duck and you captured the iridescence of the plumage really nicely here. I also really like that you can see its leg there as it paddles, gives it a little something extra. Great frame Dorian!

[dankearl]

I think this is an average image for you....I am not a big fan of the water color and the shoveler
does not show much of the great blue plumage.

[Dorian Anderson]

I think this is an average image for you....I am not a big fan of the water color and the shoveler
does not show much of the great blue plumage.

I'm a bit confused......

First, what color would you like the water to be? Pond water is often green or yellow-green when it reflects surrounding foliage.

Second, the only blue on a shoveler is in the wing, this sitting view offering a nice suggestion of it. Unless the bird is flapping or
stretching, I don't think you're going to see more blue than presented. Is the critique you'd like to see a flight shot instead?

I did adopt a 1.6x1 crop as you suggested for another image of mine as I thought it worked well here.

[gail bisson]

Great POV. I love the little bit of blue peeking through.
The green water compliments the duck beautifully.
IQ is excellent and crop is spot on.
I would evict that little black spot in front of the shoveler in the green water,
Gail

[dankearl]

Dorian.
My critique is only that your stuff if usually so top notch that I just thought this was an average image from you..
You are correct, the water color is what it is, I just find the color not that attractive with the Duck, not your fault...
You are right that just sitting you would not see the blue plumage much, so that was a bad critique from me...
I just see it when they groom and fluff so I missed it...
Sorry.

[Dorian Anderson]

Appreciate the clarification and kind words. I totally understand this image lacks action and is thereby less exciting
that more dynamic frames, but this is what the birds offer at this location. This is actually my first on-water frame
of this species, all my others being in-flights, so that's why I took the time to capture, process, and post this image.

Cheers

Dorian.
My critique is only that your stuff if usually so top notch that I just thought this was an average image from you..
You are correct, the water color is what it is, I just find the color not that attractive with the Duck, not your fault...
You are right that just sitting you would not see the blue plumage much, so that was a bad critique from me...
I just see it when they groom and fluff so I missed it...
Sorry.

[Alex Becker]

Nice colors throughout here. I like how the blue on the bow wave compliments the wing. Low POV works. EXP looks good, but maybe a little hot behind the leg on the jpg. Details look good, but might be tempted to sharpen the face a little more. TFS, I don't have much at all of this species.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dorian, tack sharp, and love your low angle of capture. Excellent exposure throughout the Shoveler, and the eye pops so well against the green of the head. I'm fine with the green of the water, and if this were mine, I would take a bit off the bottom, and add to the top - just a touch.