golden American Wigeon

[John Chardine]

Summer season is closing down fast but the ducks at the local Sackville Waterfowl Park are still there and feeding actively. This male American Wigeon is paired up with a female and I watched them feeding late this afternoon in golden light. In our area wigeon are difficult to approach so I hid behind some cattails for this image. Still, I had to crop (about 50%) more than I would have liked.

BG is water reflection of setting sun on white birches, still with leaves, hence the colour. OOF BG was treated with a soft blur brush to even out the pixels.

image: IMG_1283.CR2
maker: Canon
model: Canon EOS 50D
capture date: Sunday, November 2, 2008 5:210 PM
exposure program: Manual
ISO speed: 800
shutter speed: 1/800
aperture: f5.6
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
flash: OFF
focal length: 700.0

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find, details and pose. I like the lowered head and feeding behavior.

[Fabs Forns]

I love the colors all around him, nicely done, John :)

[Tony Whitehead]

Great job, John. Love the colours and BG. Duck is just beautiful. I am quite envious of all your lovely duck subjects.

[John Chardine]

Thanks Tony (and others). Any chance of you posting a New Zealand Blue Duck- arguably one of the pinnacles of "duckhood".

[bill kominsky]

Great job John simply put, gorgeous and hope my new 50-D performs as well, please let me know if you experience any glitches.

Bill