Hooded Merganser Pair

[Raymond Barlow]

D300 / 200-400 VR + 1.7 TC @ 550mm
1/500 sec, f9, 320 iso
Tripod, Katana Gimbal, natural light, pano crop

Taken last week at Humber East.

[Jon Sund]

Great capture of Hooded Mergansers. Both birds are in focus with nice reflections in the water. The mixed colors in the water add an interesting texture. You even captured the water flow in front and behind the Mergansers showing movement.

[Marina Scarr]

You did a great job getting both of these birds in focus and in the same frame...not an easy task. Good thinking on the F9. If it were mine, I would consider removing the stick just behind the male's tail. The water and reflections are gorgeous. I wonder whether you tried any other crops?

[Jim Crosswell]

A real beauty Ray! I like the glistening beaks and eye contact in this image.

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Ray - Excellent capture of the drake and hen together. This image is a great teaching tool as many people have never seen hooded mergansers. Just a beautiful shot, by the way.

[Scott Frye]

Great looking pair -- in a beautiful setting

[Harshad Barve]

What a cute pair , lovely image
TFS

[Paul Lagasi]

Way to go Ray...lovely pair of my favourites...colors, reflection...glad to see your getting away from those raptors...lolol

[James Salywoda]

This is fantastic Ray I like the fact you got both birds together and very sharp your choice of the pano works perfectly here. I sure hope I get some Hoodies this winter...:)

[Kiran Poonacha]

TWO good :-) nice HA of both birds and light makes this for me.. congrats..

[Ofer Levy]

Great job in getting them both sharp while moving Ray!
How do you find the D300+200-400 combo? I own the Nikon 200-400 f4 VR as I bought it for my video work. I consider getting the D300 - any suggestions?
Thanks mate!

[Randy Stout]

Ray:

Nice capture of the pair as mentioned, with good head angles.

I like the concept of the environment, but to my eye the many bright reflections and the bright areas in the background detract from the subject too much. Perhaps some selective luminosity adjustment.

Everyone else likes it, so take it for what its worth, but that is how it strikes me!

Again, great to see them together. I rarely see the females here in Michigan.

Randy

[Raymond Barlow]

Great job in getting them both sharp while moving Ray!
How do you find the D300+200-400 combo? I own the Nikon 200-400 f4 VR as I bought it for my video work. I consider getting the D300 - any suggestions?
Thanks mate!

Hi Ofer

Cool to see that you have the 200-400, hope you like this lens as much as I do., the D300 is pretty much off the self these days, so the D300s which has video would be a good choise, or., wait for the D3s coming soon... this will be one incredible camera. Iso 1600 and clean! I do not keep up too much with the latest equipment releases, as I cannot afford to buy anything, so you may be better off with advice form the experts!

If I can help you with anything more, please email me @ ray@raymondbarlow.com

And please come up here to Canada for a visit sometime, lots of room for you here at my home... eh?

take good care bud.

[Raymond Barlow]

Ray:

Nice capture of the pair as mentioned, with good head angles.

I like the concept of the environment, but to my eye the many bright reflections and the bright areas in the background detract from the subject too much. Perhaps some selective luminosity adjustment.

Everyone else likes it, so take it for what its worth, but that is how it strikes me!

Again, great to seem them together. I rarely see the females here in Michigan.

Randy

Thanks Randy, I appreciate your honest critique as always, the light could have been much better, and your suggestion for a selective luminosity adjustment is over this boys head!