Wood Duck Family

Gallery: AvianPosted July 10, 201094 views6 comments

Wood Duck Family (Aix sponsa)

This mother duck was very, very wary. I have many shots of her and her family going away from me at full speed. This is one of the few side shots.

I like that the ducklings are so close to the mother in this shot. Also, the reflection of vegetation on a steep opposite bank adds to the appearance of the water. The early morning sunlight was helpful too. I was hoping to see the male but he wasn't anywhere in the pond. It is a large crop but this is as close as I could get and I think that the detail is holding up well.

All comments very welcome.

EOS 7D, EF 400mm f/5.6: ISO 500, 1/1000 s, f/11, this image is 3061 pixels x 2041 pixels (=6.3 MP or 35% of the 18 MP of the 7D).

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 10, 2010 at 6:41 PM

It has held up very well to the crop Steve, you had a good capture to work with obviously. Great morning light and reflections. Mom gave you just enough of a head turn. Wouldn't change a thing.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 10, 2010 at 8:07 PM

Wow good job getting the light on all of these ducks - especially at just 400 (even with the big crop). It held up well and the DOF is perfect

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 10, 2010 at 8:42 PM

very nice, Steve. I like the tight grouping, the 5 catchlights, the great colors in the water, and the nice angle you got on mom. Detail looks fine for the crop. Some of the bright spots on the ducklings are a little distracting, at this size it is hard to tell if they are water drops and I might evict some of them. This is a good looking shot, and I enjoy seeing the females.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 10, 2010 at 11:34 PM

Wow! Catchlights all the way around. Way to go on that one. I rather like the way they're swimming away from you with the mother giving you that wary look.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Sentipal on July 11, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Steve,

Nice family portrait. I find the same thing here in Virginia. They all stick together and move away as a group as well. You have a nice capture here.

Andrew

Registered on February 16, 2008, 200 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on July 11, 2010 at 3:50 PM

Steve,
beautiful family shot. I like the careful look of the mother, the whole family catchlight and the water color. Well done!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments