Our local star - MR. H. Merganser

[Randy Stout]

This hooded merganser was captured at the local bird sanctuary near Augusta, MI. This is the same bird that Gary Esman showed eating a bass recently. He is quite an interesting fellow. According to the staff, had a minor wing injury as a youngster, and was rehabbed at the center before being released back to the wild. He apparently thinks he is a mallard, as he tends to hang around with them, and sometimes flies off with them. He has been coming back each fall and staying the winter for six years now. He is banded, so they know its the same bird.

D300 500mm f/4 with 1.4 TC f/7.1 1/1000s ISO 1000 Flash/better beamer, -1.0 EC Gitzo/Wimberley

Post: Minor crop for comp, selective sharpening, multiply selection on breast and white of crown, Tim Grey's dodge treatment on darker areas of body to even out the illumination a bit, since the light angle was off to the right.

I like the surface tension effect shown by the tail, and the 'brush stroke' effect in the water. I also was pleased that you can see the green tint to his neck feathers. This doesn't show up very often, at least not in the many merganser pictures I have taken.

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Love the patterns and color of the water. You did well in less than ideal lighting conditions (with the light from our right....) What time of day? I do see the green in the feathers on the lower part of the face and head.

I think that darkening the pupil a bit would increase the apparent sharpness.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I was actually contemplating about that water as I feel it appears a little noisy? It's certainly a great looking fellow and I am sure you did the best given the conditions at hand. I find the comp appealing and light direction fine. It kind of pops a little more with the side lighting perhaps, but I often favor the unconventional angles. Are these skittish? TFS.

[Gary Esman]

Very nice Randy. May I add that getting him in clean water and in good light is a very big challenge here. He tends to hide under the over hanging bushes and thus in the shade. Nice background, sharp, nice HA. I show that green in a few of my shots and thought there may be something wrong with my Canon equipment!:)

Gary.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks guys:

Artie: Taken about 10:00 am. This little back pond is in the bottom of a steep hill and is surrounded by trees on three sides, so often gets only limited direct light, esp. this time of year.

Akos: ISO 1000 on the D300 did give some noise in the water. I will run some NR on it, but didn't want to disturb the texture/brush effect by smoothing it out too much. As far as these guys being skittish, this one is pretty tame, because of his history at this site.

Gary: This is the sequence where my card filled up, so missed some better shots as he turned a bit more.
Live and learn!

Cheers

Randy

[Andrew Merwin]

Wonderful image Randy. I like the water, the reflection & that I can see his foot. Well captured.

[Paul Guris]

I can't add much, but I'd like to point out that the tail making an actual depression in the water looks stellar. 2mm up and it's flat and 2mm down and the tail is under water. Perfect timing.

[Randy Stout]

I can't add much, but I'd like to point out that the tail making an actual depression in the water looks stellar. 2mm up and it's flat and 2mm down and the tail is under water. Perfect timing.

Paul:

I agree it is a neat effect. They seem very good at maintaining this posture as I have a number of shots with this slight depression/surface tension effect on the tail on the water.

Andrew: Glad you noticed the foot. I looked at the image for a while before it popped out at me. I love images with little surprises tucked away here and there

Cheers

Randy

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Randy, yes the brush strokes really make this one special. Loved the head turn you captured. These birds are very very skittish here.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Randy,

Love this shot, the brush-stroked water is very appealing. Great that this guy is relatively tame also, up here I have to use a bag blind, but they still don't come in that close.

[Jim Crosswell]

A real beauty Randy! I like the texture of the water, visible feet and pose.