Chorus Line

Gallery: AvianPosted July 21, 2012699 views26 comments

"One, two, three, kick!"

There were 8 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in one tree, 4 on this branch alone. I just sat and waited until they all were more or less lined up and shot away. I thanked them profusely for the opportunity and left them to enjoy the perch.

Thanks for looking! Please feel free to comment and/or critique.

Image Quality: RAW (14-bit)
Camera Info
Device: Nikon D300S, HH, braced on hood of SUV
Lens: VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D
Focal Length: 280mm
Focus Mode: AF-S
AF-Area Mode: Single
VR: ON
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1250s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Metering: Matrix
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 400
91% of full frame
PP in LR4, SEP2, CS6

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 21, 2012 at 9:15 PM

Now that's getting all your ducks in a row!

Excellent image. Great perch and wonderful comp. I particularly like seeing the webbing on their feet.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 21, 2012 at 9:19 PM

I love it. A very nice composition.

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on July 22, 2012 at 12:03 AM

Great shot, Phil. Love it.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on July 22, 2012 at 12:52 AM

This is one cool composition. It has the feeling of a painting as well. Great caputure.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on July 22, 2012 at 12:56 AM

That is one great looking picture, have them all four looking one way,nice background and the quality is making the shot stunning

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on July 22, 2012 at 12:58 AM

Amazing comp, lovely perch for them to come and give you pose like that. Love the mood also capture with this awesome image.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 22, 2012 at 2:10 AM

Excellent Phil, love it!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 22, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Very cool & unique, great work Phil!
Like this one a lot

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 22, 2012 at 9:58 AM

A really wonderful comp, Phil: The branch leads our eye from left to right, from duct to duck. They are all nice and sharp and all looking the same way too! Fine work.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on July 22, 2012 at 11:43 AM

What a cool composition. Lovely perch against a smooth BG. Great shot.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on July 22, 2012 at 6:47 PM

Wonderful image Phil, well imagined, well captured.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 22, 2012 at 11:50 PM

Fun image, Phil. Great title.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 23, 2012 at 1:47 AM

Well done getting your ducks aligned.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 23, 2012 at 8:12 AM

Really nice comp Phil. Great job of showing patience in the field as well. It really paid off for you.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 23, 2012 at 1:03 PM

This is awesome Phil

Perfect light and background for this group. Excellent comp!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 23, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Excellent composition Phil, your waiting definitely paid off, one of your best images IMHO, the larger image was a pleasure to view.

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

Comment posted by David Williams on July 23, 2012 at 6:10 PM

Wonderful shot, Phil! Don't even need to see a large version to appreciate the shot itself, but the larger version shows detail quite well......very nicely done!

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on July 25, 2012 at 7:51 PM

Terrific image Phil-love the comp!

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 26, 2012 at 4:36 AM

Great shot Phil - possibly take a bit off the top and add some to the bottom???

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 26, 2012 at 4:31 PM

Lovely birds set so well against such a clean background. It's a great "graphic" shot. Congrats on the WP.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on July 26, 2012 at 7:05 PM

Sweet!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 26, 2012 at 7:06 PM

Woot! Congratulations on the EP, Phil. Great photo.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 26, 2012 at 9:00 PM

Wow, Phil. Love this. Congrats on the WP.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 26, 2012 at 9:54 PM

Geat capture - extremely tough to get more than one in a decent pose!
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 27, 2012 at 7:26 PM

Thanks everyone! And thanks to the ducks for being so cooperative.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Toya Heatley on July 30, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Congrats on the WP, great shot!

Registered on June 13, 2012, 36 Posts, 98 Comments