Mallards at Play

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Mallards at Play
Photo Information
Copyright: Bob Shannon (eqshannon) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1665 W: 156 N: 5705] (17136)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Anatidae photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-11 7:11
Viewed: 341
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have not been out to Fish Lake since my run-in with a couple of thugs, so with trepidation my wife and I went out on Saturday May 11, 2008 and found a lively family reunion and picnic instead. It was an overcast day as can be seen in the image, but these two Mallards still took the advantage of a quiet moment together. I watched them slowly floating along the shoreline and going underneath in a shallow part. The male was pulling and tugging at something twice his size. I could not make out what it was. Certainly not something that he would eat, but more likely a simple game for him to play as the reunion group played volleyball about 300 yards away not noticing.

If you look closely at the females head you cans see her feathers are sticking out slightly. They were both shaking off the excess water, having been almost totally submerged for a good ten minutes on and off not noticing I was very close and standing in a foot of water. Funny. I didn't know I was in water either. I have a form of neuropathy which leaves little to no feeling from my ankles down. This also makes my gait a bit wobbly. finally I did hear a squishy sound coming from my feet and looked to see I was in the water. Water levels were high so I was standing not on the lake bottom but on water covered grass. All of this gave me time to take several images with two cameras and three lens...perhaps I shall post the whole series over the next 2 days....

Fujifilm DSLR
Sigma 70-300 at 300mm
ISO 800 Yes...and noise plus gives much better DOF
f9.2
1/5000th
Matrix Meter
Hand Held

writerscrawlz, bobair, matatur, tkp1165, nglen, uleko, gerbilratz, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, marhowie, CeltickRanger, jusninasirun, tuslaw, Jamesp, haraprasan, angela926, Alex99, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Terrible Weathereqshannon 1 05-11 14:58
To uleko: Lighteneqshannon 1 05-11 11:13
To writerscrawlz: Mallards at Playbobair 1 05-11 08:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob,
very nice to see ye duckies and in an environment that is so natural looking what with the plants,it adds much interest.It looks that at the time of this shot the day was a bit dull but as you and I already know such days can really make colours pop.Sure mallard ducks are common and a bit of a cliche here on TN but I never tire of seeing them as every photo is unique and well worth viewing.The only thing that could be better is if there were a little more contrast but you have to run with the light at hand and nature doesn't play with us on demand,got to love her-hum! Happy Mothers nature day to you.Tfs. Bob

This is a fun capture, especially since they seem to be having a grand time. I, too, haven't been to Fish Lake since I heard a couple of idiots had been bothering folks, but 'tis nice to see these two buggers. I love seeing animals at play - and this is an enjoyable one. Glad to see that you and your wife were safe on this trip. :)

hello bob,
nice capture of the mallards, the surroundings look so natural, liked the composition and the pov, good timing,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Bob,
The reeds isolated a kind of pool from the main water body, as if for the mallards to play within, which they seem to do. The frozen movements of the one at right produced a fine statuesque effect, but of course the female is not able to see it, looks quite unaware of the display. You've captured an interesting episode of nature here!
Cheers,
Mehmet

Excellent sharp details,very nice colors and light.
Regards,
Nikos.

Hi Bob
Great capture of the Ducks.I like how the male is spreading his wings.
Very nice job Bob. TFS
Tom

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-11 8:48]

Hi Bob,
Wow.....Outstanding shot and you have captured this moment so beautifully. Lovely colours and sharpness with clear details. Superb light management and illumination is so pleasant to the eyes. These Mallards are really having a great time there and the ripples created by it looks fantastic. Excellent low POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-11 9:57]

Hi Bob. I am glad you had a better time at Fish lake this time. You have captured a good pair of mallard with good detail and colours. Good timing with the male and his open wings. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2295 W: 163 N: 6692] (21138)
  • [2008-05-11 10:17]
  • [+]

Hello Bob,
Fine capture of the Mallards in action, a species that seem to like performing and are plentiful everywhere. I like the way they're posing and the way the blue "wing mirrors" are shown on both here. A fine composition but maybe a little bit dark.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Bob, great composition. This is a great picture, colours, timing and details are spot on...I have been looking at your recent settings... they are now in my diary!!

Hello Bob,

Nice funny shot of this two Mallards.
Good moment to catch them.

Gert

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 342 W: 0 N: 263] (2095)
  • [2008-05-11 11:17]

Bela foto muito bem composta e cores muito atraente parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-05-11 12:50]

Hi Bob,

This Mallard couple facing the reeds is wonderful. They seem to be having a good time in the water. Love the pose of the male as he shows off his beautiful wings. Excellent details - marvelous colors - superb setting.

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-05-11 13:56]

Excellent action shot, Bob!
The poses you've captured are great!
Brilliant to here you went back to Fish Lake and didn't get bothered by any thugs - you're quite brave to have gone back, it probably would have kept me away for ages but that wouldn't be sensible because the chances of them coming back are very slim... a nature reserve is the last place someone who's looking for trouble would go :-)

Anyway back to the shot!
Great sharpness from that super-high shutter-speed.
Superb composition too.
Well done Bob!

Joe

Hello Bob,
Well seen in their natural environment. I enjoy the composition including the male/female pair, with the male posing nicely.
Nice job under overcast skies.
Well done,
Howard

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 794 W: 5 N: 2035] (7703)
  • [2008-05-11 15:44]

Hi Bob,whata fantastic moment to take and what a beautifulls colours of this ducka,excellent sharpness and very nice refelctions,my best complients,Luciano

Hi Bob,

Very good action wildlife photo with good composition, sharp details and nice colours.

TFS

Pekka

hello Bob

i love this kind of duck photos, being patient, waiting,
and then shooting the image at the good moment,
in your image you had that twice with 2 different ducks,
open and close wings, and preening, superb image
with very fine POV and DOF, excellent sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

Hello Bob. Very nice capture of these mallards in the lake. The sharpness and clarity is very good from brilliant optics. I like the grass out of the water making the perspective more interesting. Thanks for writing an interesting note as well. Best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 149 W: 7 N: 350] (1142)
  • [2008-05-11 19:27]

Great shot Bob,
Very sharp and detailed imagage, the colours are beautiful, really showing off the bright blue wing bands.
Love the pose of the male, it makes his wing feathers look full and fluffy. The female just has the new hair style that all the young gal ducks are getting now-a-days, it's called punk rocker or something like that. Nice job!!
Ron

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 144 N: 5637] (16707)
  • [2008-05-11 22:50]

Good action shot Bob, and I'm pleased you didn't fall flat on your face in the water - those cameras and lens would have suffered with that!!!
These ducks are always preening and stretching and I like how you've caught the 2 of them in different poses.
Good one Bob
Janice

Namastay Bob,
A lovely capture of these beautiful mallards having a dip. Excellent sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-05-12 3:04]

Hi Bob

You have really captured the tones in the water very well here - I like the horizontal ripples contrasted with the verticals of the emerging reeds, punctuated by the stretching male.

Great work.

James

:) L8r

Hello Bob,
Great capture of this lovely pair, excellent composition
and good point of view, very good action, superb
sharpness, beautiful vivid colors, nice light and
excellent depth of field.
Angela

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-05-14 4:18]

Hi Bob.
What is ISO 800 for Fuji. Despite the cloudy weather managed to get so colourful shot of a nice nature scene. I like DOF, crisp sharpness of the players and poor vegetation, reflections in the water are so cute too as well as a light smoothness behind the water plants. Nice, refined picture. My compliments.
Alexei.
P.S. I cannot overestimate your interest and kindness also as well as encouragement. Your comments are so inspiring. I am grateful to you so much.

Hi Bob,

Feels like a serene atmosphere.

Subhayan.

Hi Bob,

A good capture of the mallards at play, they are impressive. The point of view is showing with precision the detail and colors of the ducks. There is a good contrast between the colors. The subject is well framed. Have a nice day.

Pierre

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