Mallard Duck "Smiling for the Camera"

[James Salywoda]

Mallard Duck
Southern, California

Probably one of the most recognized ducks and often seen as I do find them to be very good looking with the green and blue tones on the head of the male.

Nikon D300s AFS 600 F4

ISO 800 F6.3 1/1600

Thanks For Looking

Jim

[Juan Aragonés]

Just terrific James. The fantastic Bg together with the wings position, the great colors in the head AND the open beak are too good to be true (I forget to cite the water drops in the belly). This is one of the most beautifull images of a male mallard that I can remember. Big congratulations :-)

[denise ippolito]

Jim, The beautiful BG w/ the strip of gold at the top is lovely. You duck is sharp and well exposed. It seems to be smiling at you. Just all around beautiful image!

[Morkel Erasmus]

this is stunning Jim - the best mallard shot I've yet seen. lovely colours, DOF and angle of flight.

[Adams Serra]

Beautiful image James!
Perfect focus, wing position and BG.

[Michael Zajac]

James, Great looking image in every way. The open mouth and smile puts this over the top.

[Lorant Voros]

Wow and wow. This is amazing, James. Now I am readying the other comments....I can only join them and repeat the same things. Big congratulations.

[Arthur Morris]

James. You are too good. It does not get any better than this for all of the reasons noted above. I have never seen a Mallard flight image anywhere close to this one. The green and purple tones on the head are beyond the beyond.

[Harshad Barve]

James
This is spectacular image , adding to others I liked the water droplets on body very much here
TFS

[Dan Busby]

Eight sets of comments and not one with even a hint of a suggested improvement. And Arthur says "... beyond the beyond". This one shows that you are on top of the game!

[Arthur Morris]

OK, as much as I love it I will take the bait. If both wings were raised a bit more then we would have had more underwing detail in the near wing and a bit better view of the far wing's speculum. Are you happy now?

Just joshing. I still love it as is and wish that it were mine.

[James Salywoda]

OK, If both wings were raised a bit more then we would have had more underwing detail in the near wing and a bit better view of the far wing's speculum. Are you happy now?

Just joshing. I still love it as is and wish that it were mine.

Thanks everyone for the nice words:)

Artie I totally can agree with you on that just a bit higher would of been perfect to be honest this one was almost close to being just an average flight shot to me as the far wing is nearing the head if it had merged it probably wouldn't of been posted. Anyways thanks for the nice words.:D

[Arthur Morris]

You are most welcome. All comments are well deserved.

[Raymond Barlow]

a real stunner James, very well done., and nice job cloning the jessies! :)

[arash_hazeghi]

Mallard simply doesn't get better than this, open beak, nice wing position and eye contact. Congrats

[Kiran Poonacha]

WOW Bhai, sure wish it was mine.. congrats.. fine image indeed..

[Arthur Morris]

a real stunner James, very well done., ... and nice job cloning the jessies! :)

Ray, can you please explain the above?

[Doug Brown]

He's smiling because he's the only duck that flew when the sun was shining! Nicely captured Jim.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Hmm great posture and eye contact! You did well to freeze the action at that SS. Background is superb too!

[Ofer Levy]

I have to agree - you are too good my friend!!! I think I don't like you as much anymore....(0-:

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

James this must be the best flying duck image that I have seen in my life! so many congrats and thanks for sharing this beauty.