Work has unfortunately been dominating my life for the past 12 months and left little time for photos or BPN. I managed an overnight solo camping trip after Blue Ducks in April and was pleased to get some images as I have been after these rare torrent ducks for ages. Invariably I see them when fishing but never come across them when wading with a camera! Things finally came together with some ducks and good light.
Nikon D3s
Nikon 500VR + TC14
ISO1600 f5.6 1/1250 Matrix +0.67
Fillflash
Monopod
LR3, PS5, local adjustments with Viveza2
Hi Tony-What an absolute thrill to see this spectacular New Zealand endemic, and to see it so beautifully rendered! I had no idea it was as colourful as it is, including the red spot around the nares. Love the light and golden water. Sharpness is super with lots of feather detail. There can't be many images of this species as good as this.
Tony, very interesting looking bird so I can see why you would try and capture it. Kinda looks like our coot but much prettier. He has really pretty colors in his feathers and you have a nice golden BG to show him off.
Very good to see you back here Tony. This is a great looking duck, I don't think I have ever seen an image of one. I really like the lighting, sharpness, and the great colors reflected in the water.
Glad to see you posting again Tony! What a beautiful duck! Everything came together for you on this one; I love the pink of the bill and the yellow eye!
Cool! Beautiful species, and I love the mean look it sports. Details and exposure look great. I only wish you had pointed your lens lower to clear the reflection at bottom.
Stunning shot, Tony. Beautiful duck; beautiful capture including great color and detail. Love the reflected yellow eye. Congrats on getting him. I got a distant view of one of these guys in NZ a few years ago, but like John, didn't realize how much color variation he has.
Very interesting duck, nice job on exposure of bone white bill, good color in the water, like the ripples radiating away from breast.
I am bothered a bit by the second eye reflection, and might try a version with that cropped out. The double bill doesn't bother me nearly as much as that eye.
Would then make a balancing crop from the top to keep his relative position in frame the same.
Hi Tony, let me add too that its great to see you posting again, and what a great looking duck to share with us. This species 'looks' along the lines of a shoveller ( bill and eyes are similar ) Low perspective works well, and you have captured excellent colors and feather detail. I like the different textures of the water - top and below the duck. Lets see more.
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, guys. It was pretty magical catching these birds in decent light as being crepuscular and inhabiting mountain streams they are usually in shadow when active or resting up when the sun is high. I had spent the early morning getting some images as they fed but the light was poor as no sun into the valley and a morning mist. After a while they just drifted down stream to rest up in this back water and the sun came through. It was interesting to see the plumage in nice light as I had never been aware of the iridescence on the shoulder. The pale bony pink bill really glows in the light and gives the red appearance in the nostril. Dan, I have more room below but it gives me 4 bills and eyes in the reflection! - I think I will try Randy's suggestion and crop out the 2nd eye reflection.