These two drakes were challenging/beating on each other all morning. Part of a group of fifteen that are frequenting my pond now that the hens are on the nest.
I leveled, cropped and did a little noise control in CS3.
Camera Model: Canon EOS 40D
Date/Time: 2010:04:20 07:14:38
Shutter speed: 1/2000 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Av
ISO: 400
Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal length: 420mm
White balance: Color temp=5200K
Color space: AdobeRGB
Excellent low shooting angle, front bird nice, well exposed, still a bit of noise in the darker feathers.
I like the concept of the image, but for me it would be more effective if they didn't merge. The head of the back bird is clear of the merge, which is important, but for me, I would prefer him to be in the clear, perhaps RUC.
Were you shooting from a blind, or just lying low in boat or on the shoreline?
Thanks guys...Randy, I have a couple of other images without overlap, but to me the OOF duck was just too distracting standing alone...although I have mixed feelings with it in this one, I like the mirror effect and the fact the head of the OOF duck was clear of the main subject.
It was from a blind I built this winter in one of my ponds...it's on pilings in the water and can be adjusted up or down (not particularly easily, but it can be) to keep the deck near the water surface. I use an angle finder and shoot with the camera on the floor of the blind.
I've had other similar blinds in years past but this one is the first that is A) adjustable for water depth and B) roomy enough and tall enough that I can sit up, kneel, and generally be comfortable in. Of course this year had weird weather and many of the duck species I usually have for a few weeks (ring necked, green wing teal, pintail, shoveller and bufflehead) came and went in a matter of days - which happened to be days I had other places to be. Oh well, I'm content with woodies....and I have 3 hooded mergansers on eggs right now, so I should have lots of photo ops in the coming weeks.