Hooded Merganser

Gallery: AvianPosted December 21, 2011229 views14 comments

This image from 2009, Hooded Merganser was swimming with a small group of Mallards on the edge of a mostly frozen lake. Nikon D300 with 300mm f2.8 + 1.7 tc, ISO 800, f5.6, shutter 1/1250. Thanks critique comment appreciated. Ray

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 21, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Excellent. Nice work on the exposure - detail in both black and white feathers. The water drops on the neck are a nice touch.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on December 21, 2011 at 11:03 PM

I agree with Richard, nice job with the exposure on a tough subject. The drops are an added bonus.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 21, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Wonderful detail and a great job on a very difficult exposure, Ray.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on December 22, 2011 at 12:55 AM

Great pose, composition and detail Ray!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on December 22, 2011 at 6:43 AM

Great stuff ! Love the eye !
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 22, 2011 at 7:37 AM

Very nice work Ray, these are difficult birds to get right and you handled the exposure beautifully.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 22, 2011 at 7:49 AM

Excellent exposure and details Ray, what a handsome waterbird this is.
The water on the back adds nicely, great comp too

Merry Christmas!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 22, 2011 at 1:13 PM

Wonderful composition, I like the head turn so you can really appreciate the merganser and the yellow eye, nice job in getting this difficult contrast shot, well done.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 22, 2011 at 8:41 PM

This is top notch IMO. Exposure couldn't be better, nice view of the bird, good detail and composition. A species I lust after...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on December 22, 2011 at 9:24 PM

Ray,
Maybe the most difficult bird to expose for and you nailed it with detail in both the blacks and the whites as Richard mentions. Beautifully done. Merry Christmas Ray.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 22, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Fantastic. I love these birds and this image is a great representation of their hood and colors. I've just found a small flock near my home near Houston, but haven't gotten close enough yet to get any reasonable images. You've given me a goal to strive for. Very well done.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 26, 2011 at 7:46 PM

I wish I could get a shot this nice of one of these guys. My only small criticism would be to try for a little lower angle but this is really sweet just as it is. Was this guy photo friendly or did you have to sneak up or use a blind? The few I've found around here (Dallas, TX) are very camera shy.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 26, 2011 at 8:15 PM

Thanks all. Thanks Robert, I agree about being a bit lower but unfortunately didn't have the chance. This one was really shy, I followed him around but he kept eluding me. I was close to the waters edge for this shot and he was following a group of Mallards who weren't shy at all, I guess they brought him to me. I think he was surprised to see me so close. I was surprised to see him.

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on January 8, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Wow! Now that's one unique-looking bird! Lovely capture Ray, exposure and detail appear spot on, and really like the low angle of view! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments