Northern Pintail: Power and Grace

[Doug Brown]

While out in California, I noticed Jim Salywoda watching a pair of Pintails. I joined him and we photographed them floating on the water for a couple of minutes. Suddenly they exploded out of the water. This handsome Drake gave me a couple of great frames as he flew by. This is probably one of my all-time favorite duck flight shots.



Canon 7D, 600mm + 1.4x, f/6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, -1/3 EC, hand held

[Aidan Briggs]

Could it get any better? Great BG, sharpness, and perfect exposure, The wing position shows off those lovely colors on the pintail's wing. Is the bird flying ever so slightly away from us or am I imagining things? :)

Very well done Doug!!

[Dan Walker]

I can see why this is your favorite. Love the stretched our neck, wings and eye contact. Great detail. Well done!

[Joel Eade]

Great work Doug. Your images with the 7D are impressive....you really seem to have done your homework and learned that body well. Did you already have the camera set to those settings or did you make a quick change when the birds took flight?

[Steve Canuel]

Very nice shot Doug. Really like the soft colors of this one and how well they all go together.

[Kurt Bowman]

Terrific flight shot Doug. I don't get the chance to see many Pintails. I saw one 2 weeks ago and it was the first in a few years in my area. Just like this one, it saw me and took off immediately and I wasn't quite ready. To get a shot this good of such a fast elusive duck is outstanding.

[jfranciskay]

Fantastic Doug, I think it is one of my favorites too. Spot on techs and a great action shot. I am not left wanting anything on this one, well done!

[Alan Murphy]

600, 1.4 handheld, and you were probably laying down too! unbelievable shot Doug.

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Doug, I'm in absolute agreement with all the positive comments and the icing on the cake for me is the look he's giving you, as if to say, "how's this for a great pose?"

[Hendri Venter]

I like the pose and eye contact. Very well captured Doug. Steady hands I must say.

[Gal Shon]

This is probably one of my all-time favorite duck flight shots.

mine too...
that combo handheld... someones been having lots of spinach... :)
This is an extraordinary shot, VWD

[Arthur Morris]

Not bad for 1344 effective focal length (26.88 maginification) with a 15+ pound rig. I can fully understand why. My favorite part is the near wing/speculum detail. And the water droplets. Aidan, the bird is sort of tilted away from us but with the head and neck angled perfectly back toward us it more than works.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: The bird looks as if it is smiling :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very cool image! Great wing position, sharpness, look-back pose, BG and the droplets add to it. I would only tone down the white patch above the right foot.

[Peter Farrell]

Absolutely stunning. I echo all the previous positive comments. I to am impessed that you captured this with that lens hand held.
Peter

[Ofer Levy]

Doesn't get much better than this! Awesome work!!!

[Gary Esman]

Love the look of these ducks, the browns are superb! Very sharp! Congratulations!

[paul leverington]

Doug this is fantastic! The bg really rocks with it's colors and texture, and those droplets aid i giving a sense of motion. I might be able to hand hold maybe twenty seconds before I get the shakes so I can appreciate this one. Were you in fact laying down?

Paul

[Doug Brown]

I might be able to hand hold maybe twenty seconds before I get the shakes so I can appreciate this one. Were you in fact laying down?

No, I was sitting on my butt (I find it nearly impossible to track BIF while lying down and hand holding). I do quite a bit of photography with the 600 hand held (because my girlfriend has recently become attached to my 500 :)). On that particular trip, I hand held the 600 for 10 hours a day for 5 consecutive days. It's definitely a lot of work, but the work has its rewards.

I'm glad you like the photo!

[John Ippolito]

Simply outstanding, Doug. Wing position, detail, BG, sharpness are all pretty excellent. Oh and also handheld. Wow!

[Jim Crosswell]

A real beauty! Sharp, detailed image with killer BG and the water drops put this one over the top.

[James Salywoda]

Really a spectacular shot of this Pintail I'm glad you got it.....:) Excellent eye contact, low angle and wing position really made this one dynamic.

[Colin Knight]

The only way this could be better is if it were mine. =) Very well done, as many others have already said.

Image of the week? Image of the month? Guess we'll see. =)

The 7D looks to be serving you well, but I suspect will take the back seat when your Mark IV arrives.

Colin

[Doug Brown]

Hi Aidan. I think the bird is ever so slightly past me, but the head turn towards me saves the image IMO.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Image of the week? Image of the month? Guess we'll see. =)

Colin

Definitely not, moderators are not eligible, only members. :)

[Doug Brown]

The 7D looks to be serving you well, but I suspect will take the back seat when your Mark IV arrives.

It is, and it will! :D

[Christopher Marek]

Amazing. Can you tell me what % of a crop was required for this posting. How did you hold the lens steady vertically without a wimberley. Suported it on your knees?:confused:

[Christopher Marek]

Hey Doug,

I just finished looking at your photos on you web site.

I give up

[Stu Bowie]

BRILLIANT!!!!! You simply nailed this to perfection Doug. Very well done.

[Morkel Erasmus]

certainly is a stunner Doug. all been said. just adding my congrats!

[Harshad Barve]

Hi Doug

Just dropping here to congratulate you on one mighty fine image , Your work is pleasure to watch

On that particular trip, I hand held the 600 for 10 hours a day for 5 consecutive days. It's definitely a lot of work, but the work has its rewards.

This is awesome

[Marc Mol]

Doesn't get much better than this for a superb in flight image! With the trailing water drops an added bonus. Big congrat's Doug.

On that particular trip, I hand held the 600 for 10 hours a day for 5 consecutive days.

I find this effort even more astounding!:eek:

[Colin Knight]

Definitely not, moderators are not eligible, only members. :)

I didn't know that. It gives people like me a better chance, and we need all the help we can get! LOL

Colin

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I didn't know that. It gives people like me a better chance, and we need all the help we can get! LOL

Colin

Actually, only members are eligible, forum participants aren't either. ;)

[Kiran Poonacha]

One of my Fav too Bhai, great pose and light captured... my friends back in India have a lot of IQ and noise issues with the 7D, I must show them this pic..

[Mark Theriot]

Outstanding shot! 10 hours a day hand held - must be eating your Wheaties!

Mark

[Doug Brown]

Hi Christopher. This image is 60% of full frame. When I'm sitting, I do support the camera on my knee.

[david cramer]

An all around great image, Doug. I love the body tilt/water drops/outstretched wings which all imply motion so well. Perfect exposure and great bg only add to the beauty.

[Colin Knight]

Actually, only members are eligible, forum participants aren't either. ;)

Kick me when I'm down Axel....

[Greg Basco]

Doug, it's all been said -- really beautiful image. Now if you had taken this with the Canon 1200 mm f5.6 handheld, then I would really be impressed;)

Cheers,
Greg

[Doug Brown]

Doug, it's all been said -- really beautiful image. Now if you had taken this with the Canon 1200 mm f5.6 handheld, then I would really be impressed;)

If you'll pay for the hernia repair and back surgery, I'm game! :D

[Dan Brown]

Terrific Doug! you are the man! The BG is so creamy!! Love it:eek:!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Doug....late to the party...but better late than never. Awesome awesome shot. Loved the droplets and the wing position a lot. Sweeeet BG too.

[Krijn Trimbos]

I almost missed this one and that would have been a pitty! Exquisite bird, pose, HA, light and BG. This one has it all! Congrats man!

[Doug Brown]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! This was one of those images where you can't wait to get home and see it on a real screen. :)