Mallard drake chasing away another. 'Tis the season.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

A lone Mallard drake approached a Mallard pair. Typically, when that happens, there is some chasing around and then they take off. Anticipating that, I set my camera to ai servo thinking I'll be able to nail a take-off shot. Instead, the two drakes started fighting. They was a lot of biting and wing flapping. Got nice shots of the fight and then this finish. Lucky to not have a droplet in front of the eye.

40D. 400 f5.6 at f/6.3. iso 400. 1/1600s. exp. comp 0.

All C&C welcome.

[Keith Carver]

Nice light on the head, Kaustubh and I like the motion in this image, droplets, thrashing and all. Looks like the focus was on the yellow bill and eye - amazing in the presence of all that water. Would wish to see a little more of the other mallard on the right. Gorgeous BG!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Keith, thx. Here's one which has the other drake....with a scared look. I didn't like the wing position...or rather the lack of it :-) But let us see what others feel.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Looks like the focus was on the yellow bill and eye - amazing in the presence of all that water. Would wish to see a little more of the other mallard on the right.

Center sensor only....trying to follow the action and shooting in small bursts. But I am sure it was not on the bird's eye at that point in time. But the action was so fast, the camera probably did not jump.

[Randy Stout]

Kaustubh:

The action,colors, water, wonderful in OP.
I don't think the bit of the other drake to the left tells enough of the story to make its inclusion useful. Maybe as part of a series, so people could figure it out.

I would be tempted to eliminate the duck on the left, and let the great action stand on its own.

Cheers

Randy

[Martin Wallis]

agree with Randy, I like the light on the head and sharpness in this action shot.
Cheers

[Fabs Forns]

Beautiful action, light and colors. Agree on removing the frontal partial drake. Rather than telling a story, it's a misplaced wing :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

That is a tricky one, the wing gives an idea but maybe the droplets in front of the 'chaser' tell the story even without wing. Angle, light and action look very good, BTW.

[Steve Canuel]

Agree with others on teh the wing. The angle, colors, and splashing water are enough to tell the story.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Thanks everyone. I see what you are saying about the wing in the OP. I learn something in every image I post.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Kaustubh, I only see coots chasing each other, never Mallards. The sprayed water tells the story, and well done for capturing the action.

[Markus Jais]

Great angle, wonderful light and colors. Awesome action with fantastic water drops.
In the 1st shot, I might remove the wing but in the 2nd, I think the 2nd bird is ok and adds to the story.

Markus