Drake Wood Duck Perched

Gallery: AvianPosted May 23, 2011210 views21 comments

Mark IV, 800mm, ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/640th, Natural Light, Wimberly

This oak limb overhangs the pond and I was pleased to get this Drake against the nice BG on a perch. The Drake Wood Ducks never seem quite real somehow. Their colors are simply too spectacular to be believed.

Comments greatly appreciated. A larger version is also posted.

Peter

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on May 23, 2011 at 10:58 PM

Great shot- Wonderful bird, with excellent detail, nice pose and a beautiful smooth BG- My congrats, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on May 23, 2011 at 11:31 PM

You're right, I never get tired of those amazing feathers. I like everything here. A wonderful comp, pose, and a near perfect perch.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 23, 2011 at 11:46 PM

Excellent job on the colors Peter. I cannot get even close to this species...they are very skittish around here and you not only managed a great shot of one, but even got him perched in a tree....not sure I have seen one posted here before in this setting. Great work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 24, 2011 at 12:09 AM

Marvelous! Wow, some killer shots posted tonight..
Excellent detail in a species that is a nemesis for me - can't even find them around here, let alone get close to these shy guys.
Great colours, very interesting branch.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on May 24, 2011 at 1:33 AM

Picture Perfect

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 24, 2011 at 4:01 AM

Wonderful image.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 24, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Great shot Peter. Love the way the bold colours and patterns of the duck stand out from the background. perch has great character.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on May 24, 2011 at 8:14 AM

Beautiful, Peter. Wonderful pose, perch and bg and the detail and exposure are spot on. I see these guys often but very seldom see them in such a clean, uncluttered setting (except on the water). Your pond certainly seems to be providing you with some wonderful opportunities and you're turning them into awesome images.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 24, 2011 at 8:59 AM

Very nicely done! Love the setting.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on May 24, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Beautiful (and different!) shot, Peter.

Although there are woodies near my home, I've never actually seen one out on a limb like this.
Excellent job!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on May 24, 2011 at 12:54 PM

Not the usual Woodie shot, Peter........stands out nicely from the BG........well done.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 24, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Excellent setting and a wonderful composition, I have not seen many images of wood ducks out of the water, so very unique to me. Interesting comment on the duck's colors as I just recently had a similar experience, pictures just never seem to do them justice as looking at them in person. Nice job in getting this, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 24, 2011 at 7:14 PM

FABULOUS! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on May 24, 2011 at 9:19 PM

Thank you all for the positive response to this image. I tend to compose images that have the bird large in the frame and this was a bit of a departure for me. I am glad you feel it works.

thanks,
Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 24, 2011 at 9:29 PM

Great image Peter, I really like how the branch flows through the frame and the position of the duck, way to go.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 24, 2011 at 10:17 PM

Very neat shot. Nice getting this duck in such an interesting and open place.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 24, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Peter:
I agree with the positive remarks about the perch and BG and I also like how the variety of rich colors of the bird's plumage are so well seen in this image. Congrats on an excellent shot!

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on May 25, 2011 at 8:15 AM

Very nicely done !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on May 25, 2011 at 10:37 PM

Awesome! And you are so right about their amazing plumage. Like others, I find these hard to get close to, especially in the open in good light. Well done.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 26, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Love that lichen covered curvy perch!!! Of coarse it doesn't hurt that it is adorned by one of most beautiful duck species of North America. Awesome photo Peter

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 26, 2011 at 6:43 PM

Great shot Peter. Interesting to see him perched on the trunk. I know they nest in trees but a more common location seems to be on the ground or in the water. So the location makes this especially nice
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments