Male Wood Duck

[Tom Barry]

On Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX., this morning:
Male Wood Duck by tombarry975, on Flickr

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[FootLoose]

Nice shot, Tom. And that is remarkably clear water.

[Tom Barry]

Thanks for the kind words, John and Greg. FYI, the shot was taken in an arm of the lake that is fed by the famous Barton Springs, and its equally famous swimming pool, a couple of hundred yards away, which means a continual flow of clear water.

[Wavelength]

Nice image of this lovely one

[Tom Barry]

Thanks, Nandakumar.

[JBW]

Superb. Would you consider having the duck facing left rather than right?

[Tom Barry]

Thanks, Brian. I asked, and he turned around, but he was nattering on about the light in his eyes and told me the highlights might be blown out.
Male Wood Duck by tombarry975, on Flickr

[JBW]

and he was obviously smarter than me

[Tom Barry]

Seriously, I should have dialed in some negative exposure when he turned around. The newer digital cameras are said to have improved dynamic range, but my old 40D's dynamic range could not handle the challenge without underexposing more than the -1/3rd stop I always use. I could have photoshopped the highlights on the beak, but I don't think it would have looked "natural." Also, there is always a 77mm circular polarizer in my kit - except when, as in this case, I had it on another lens in a bag I left at home.

[mugge]

Thanks, Brian. I asked, and he turned around, but he was nattering on about the light in his eyes and told me the highlights might be blown out.
Male Wood Duck by tombarry975, on Flickr

Whaaaaaat!

[JBW]

Seriously, I should have dialed in some negative exposure when he turned around. The newer digital cameras are said to have improved dynamic range, but my old 40D's dynamic range could not handle the challenge without underexposing more than the -1/3rd stop I always use. I could have photoshopped the highlights on the beak, but I don't think it would have looked "natural." Also, there is always a 77mm circular polarizer in my kit - except when, as in this case, I had it on another lens in a bag I left at home.

one of the advantages to shooting in our garden is that it's never to far to go back and get something.

[NorthernFocus]

That's a lovely shot, Tom. Woodies are still my favorite duck. Yes with a higher DR camera you could likely pull the colors out of the shadows a bit more.

[Tom Barry]

I'm thinking about something like an 80D, but the 40D has been my favorite DSLR since the day I bought it, and it's tough as nails and I can get a fine used replacement for a couple of hundred bucks. I'll never sell it. Maybe if we get a big check from the Internal Revenue Service next year...

[NorthernFocus]

I'm thinking about something like an 80D, but the 40D has been my favorite DSLR since the day I bought it...

But you'd still be shooting a backward camera. Maybe you should try one with the D on the other end of the name plus another digit or two.

[Tom Barry]

But you'd still be shooting a backward camera. Maybe you should try one with the D on the other end of the name plus another digit or two.

When my ship comes in...