A first for me.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
Three days ago, just after the sun went behind a cloud, I spotted this male Mallard coming in to land on an open spot in the thin ice right in front of me. In such poor light I didn’t think I had much chance to get him sharp enough in flight but I tried anyway and I think the result is more than acceptable..
When this shot was taken he was too close for my big lens but thankfully I had my ‘baby lens’ in my hands when it happened. Given the lighting conditions I like the photo quite a lot, in part because I’ve never before captured this flight posture in a head-on approach and I think it’s pretty neat.
When I first saw the photo I cursed the timing of the cloud and poor light but the more I think about it the more I think the resulting diffuse light may have been a plus rather than a minus. Had there been direct sunshine on the bird with his wings enveloping his head like this his head almost certainly would have been in deep shade and most likely I’d have trashed the shot. I’m sure I like this photo better than I would the alternative in ‘better’ light.
To be honest the thing I’m most disappointed about in the photo is the part of a second Mallard at the bottom of the frame that you can’t see because I cloned it out. I can nearly always resist the temptation of cloning unwanted elements out of my photos but this time I was seduced.
In my view disclosing what I’ve done mitigates my transgression but it doesn’t completely exonerate it.
Ron
Wow! was my first thought. then I looked at it better and my next thought was “WOW!!!” This is one amazing photo. I hope he aced the landing on the ice!
Love this shot Ron! The wing position is just perfect.
wow, stunning! birds are so gorgeous, it just stops my breath sometimes….
Thank you, Karen.
This is a wall-worthy shot for damn sure!!! A spectacular shot for all of the reasons already mentioned and more! I know you hate to clone out distractors, but I think you’ve used your cloning skills for good and not for evil in this case — Sir Mallard Duckington needs to be a solo act.
He sure did need to be a solo act, Marty. I tried to like the photo with both ducks in it but just couldn’t.
I keep hearing music from Swan Lake! This looks like a ballet move.
Agreed, it does.
Very fun capture. I was trying to get shot like this at a pond a couple days ago. I found the ducks and geese veer away from me as soon as I raised my lens. I could get side shots and of course butt shots.
“I found the ducks and geese veer away from me as soon as I raised my lens”
I guess that’s one of the advantages I have when shooting from my pickup. I don’t have to raise my lens – it’s always at the ready. Thanks, April
Orchestra conductor, “voila” moment, gymnast sticking the landing, yoga pose — I love how we’re all reminded of other things when seeing something we’ve not seen before. I’m reminded of the vulture’s or condor’s “Horaltic” pose. This image, however, is really quite singular: a big mallard with big, bright orange, webbed feet, caught at the precise moment of a landing in perfect form! Well done, both of you! ♥️
“I love how we’re all reminded of other things when seeing something we’ve not seen before”
I guess that’s the power of some photos, Chris. To be honest I hadn’t quite expected so many folks to identify with it. I thought I might be one of just a few who found it special.
What a unique shot! Who knew? In addition to his stance, I think the colors are amazing — the purple on the wings drew my eye first, then to his yellow beak, brown collar, and to those big ole orange feet! I agree he’s like a gymnast sticking the landing. A TEN!
I’ll take a ten any ol’ day. Thank you, Kathryn.
Fantastic photo! I didn’t recall ever seeing a photo that so well captures that powerful moment of duck flight. So I checked one of my most treasured books, “Prairie Wings – Pen and Camera Flight Studies.” It has hundreds of photos and sketches of flight positions of ducks, mainly mallards. Yet it only has two photos that come somewhat close to capturing that same moment. And those were in black and white, with lots of distracting clutter, and weren’t as head on, as perfectly timed, or as focused as yours. Definitely a photo for the ages. Thanks much for taking and sharing!
Thanks so much for reporting all that, Kent. I guess at first I didn’t fully appreciate this photo.
You have invested the time and patience for shots of that caliber and we so appreciate your effort.
Thank you, Linda.
Wow. What a wonderful capture.
And yes, interesting (which is often beautiful in itself) is much better than pretty in my eyes.
Thanks, EC. So glad to see your comment. We’ve been… a little worried about you.
Thank you. Today it feels like I will live and I don’t mind. Much. More tests next week.
Ron,
“Touchdown Duck!”
Cool.
Stephen
Thanks, Stephen.
This is a GREAT capture!! I’ve never seen anything like this before. Don’t know if he looks like he’s in a yoga position of praying for a soft landing. What a terrific shot Ron!
Thank you, Ellen.
I’m so excited for you being in the right place & good timing ❗️ My husbands reaction was the same as mine, a good laugh 😁
It’s not an eagle picture but this is right up there as one of my favorites from you❗️
Good to know you like it that much. Thanks, Diana.
What a cool, fun and creative shot!! Love that you are still experiencing “firsts” after the many years of photographing birds Ron.
Believe me Kathleen, I have lots of firsts still in front of me. Potentially at least.
Getting this shot is a well deserved reward for your determination in being out there, being ready, and taking chances. What makes you special (among other things I’m sure) is how you show and teach us about bird behavior. Pretty pictures are great but understanding more about animals is what draws me to your blog day after day.
“Pretty pictures are great but understanding more about animals is what draws me to your blog day after day.”
Linda, you’ve summarized my feelings on the subject very well.
You have outdone yourself with this unbelievable photo. Again. My only gripe is that I didn’t take it. Bravo.
Much appreciated, Lyle.
That is an awesome awesome image Ron !! A very difficult image to capture !
“A very difficult image to capture”
And that’s why this shot is a first for me. Thanks, Gary.
Nice shot! He looks like a gymnast sticking a landing.
Thanks, Stephanie.
Ron, I think this shot is one of the best ever. I love unusual and this is one like I’ve never seen before and probably will never get. A keeper for sure!
Thank you, Ernest. I’m typically a fan of ‘unusual’ too and that’s part of the reason I like the shot.
Wow Ron, that is a really neat photo. I have no problem with cloning out the other duck in order to be able to show this very unique photo as it is. I do not recall ever seeing a photo of a Mallard or any other duck in this exact in-flight position. And the little light above looks like he is being blessed from Heaven 🙂 Outstanding photo.
Thank you, Everett.
WOW! That is one neat shot! 😀
Glad you like it, Judy.
Mallard conducting the orchestra! Love this one, Ron. Thanks for sharing this morning.
Thank you, Diane.
Ron, this photo exemplifies your patience and thoroughness over these many years. Who else would be able to capture a shot like this? Congratulations, and thanks for all of your expertise, persistence, and generosity.
Thanks, Alison. Others have captured photos similar to this one but for me it’s a first – at least a first with acceptable image quality.
It is most unique! Sort of reminds me of a ‘Voila moment’ ! I like the way that spot of lightness above his head seems to accentuate him. Very nice catch.
Interesting that you mention that spot of lightness above his head, Kathy. I had to crop the photo very carefully because above where I’ve cropped the spot became very large, very bright and very distracting. But I agree, as presented the spot is actually kind of interesting.