Duck Party

[Cantab]

This was a party of ducks that I photographed in early January a few years ago. I'm very slow at post processing! The ducks were on a somewhat sheltered tidal lagoon.

The photos were taken with my 100mm – 400mm, mk i with a 1.4x TC, mk iii, on a tripod with a cable release, etc. Unlike some recent photos with this combination, I was pleased with the sharpness of a good number of the photos from this shoot. Focusing has to be done manually since this combination of lenses does not allow auto focus to work on a 60D.

#1 Heading to the party


#2 Getting closer


#3 The party has started


#4 Nearly everyone is intent on eating




C&C Welcome

[Shadowman]

Nice efforts.

[Geoff F]

Good focus and exposure of tricky subjects, Bruce.

Just one slight 'problem' for me in the last scene where there is a strange object in the top left corner; probably the rear end of a duck? I would clone it out.

[Cantab]

John and Geoff, thank you for your comments.

Yes, the "strange object" is the tail end of a duck. I'll try cloning it out with some water. My experience with cloning water has not been particularly successful in the past so this will be a good opportunity for practice.

[bnnrcn]

Nice images although the light is harsh Bruce. May be try shooting towards evening or early in the morning next time

[IzzieK]

Funny, but you got quite a lot of butt shots at the end there, Bruce. I love all of the pixs especially the green head one.

[Wavelength]

Excellent images; really enjoyed the party; of course, light is a bit harsh as Binnur has pointed out; yet you got it right

[NorthernFocus]

Quite the mix of species invited to that party. I love pintails. They look so elegant.

[Cantab]

Funny, but you got quite a lot of butt shots at the end there

Yes, I've seen dabbling ducks feeding in this fashion many times but never such a collection of rear ends. There must have been a large collection of party food below the surface!

Thank you Binnur, Izzie and Nandakumar for your comments.

[Cantab]

Quite the mix of species invited to that party. I love pintails. They look so elegant.

Dan, we get a good collection of ducks that migrate down here for the winter from the interior of the province or up north. The mallards are resident here year round. Or perhaps I should say there are always mallards here; I have no idea whether we have the same individuals in the winter and the summer.

Yes, the pintails do look elegant. We also get good collections of bufflehead in specific locations during the winter, but none were at this party.

[Cantab]

Here is an edited version of #4, with the distracting elements on the left edge removed. I was pleasantly surprised how well cloning the water worked out with very little effort -- unless anyone has contrary views!

[Geoff F]

Looking good to me.