"Like Water off a Ducks Back"

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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
Camera: Fuji Finepix S2 pro, Sigma 70-300mm
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Anatidae photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 5:54
Viewed: 326
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Continuing on at Fish Lake, Spokane county, Cheney Washington State, May 10, 2008. The female of a pair of Mallards had just spent a half hour diving and such under the shallow water. Apparently my presence now known they decided to stop playing and get themselves dried off to see what it was that brought a photographer out on this day. She was in the process of flitting off the water as I clicked the shutter. The skies at that point started to lighten a bit. The fast shutter action caught the water in mid air. Ms duck and I both survey the Lake to see where her 'husband/mate' had gone. He was hiding behind some tall reeds, using his mate for bate. Mate bait. Hmmmm. Sounds like a sting operation. So he came back out and they looked at peace....clean as a duck could be from diving full under the rather questionably clean water.

From an Emory Univeristy study (*an arguable one at that):

""North American dabbling ducks are monogamous only
because males are unable to monopolize more than one female. These ducks breed synchronously and their populations typically contain more males than females... At the moment it is perhaps best simply to consider monogamy as a social pattern in which one male and one female associate during the breeding season, and not to make too many assumptions about fidelity or parentage."

The debate about monogamy still goes on in schools of higher learning.

Fuji DSLR
Sigma 70-300 at 300mm
ISO 800
1/4000th
f9.0
Hand held at a distance of 30 feet give or take
CeltickRanger, marhowie, jaycee, gerbilratz, Gert-Paassen, pekkavalo1, writerscrawlz, goldyrs, Adanac, jusninasirun, haraprasan, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Bob

as you see we are almost neighbors in todays posting,
you another lovely image, i can say action image,
and as i wrote you yesterday, i love this kind of duck photos,
with the eye on the viewfinder following the duck
and then to shoot the image at the good moment, TFS

Asbed

Good stop action at 1/4000th Bob, great noise control @ ISO 800
Plenty of DOF to show us all those flyin' water droplets too :)
Well composed with good color & details, nicely seen in this this wilderness "Fish Lake" setting..
Would like to visit that lake you've described so well in your notes before.
Well done & TFS!
Howard

Hi Bob, lovely drops on an elegant duck with splendid colors, good details and great sharpness, beautiful composition, I like a lot, ciao Silvio

hello bob,
lovely moment captured and you got the timing right for this, the dew drops look so beautiful here, pleasing composition,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Bob,this is another great pearl in your collection,perfect moment to take and excellent details and colours,my best compliments,Luciano

Hello Bob
Its amazing the detail that you have captured here..It is so full of energy..We have all seen this scene..But none of us have captured it...Just perfect camera work..A high iso brings a high shutter...And that Fuji seems to me to out gun the Canons on the iso noise stakes!!..Iso 800 is a no go on my 30d!!
Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-05-12 10:04]

Nice one of a Mallard duck having a bath on Fish Lake. The high shutterspeed did the trick to catch the water droplets so sharply, so it was worth going up to ISO 800.
Great capture and I like the composition with the green cross pattern BG from the ripples and the reed shoots.
TFS this skillfully taken shot, Bob.
Ivan

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-05-12 10:13]

Hi Bob,

What timing to get this one!!!! The splashes and the water droplets flying every which way are wonderful. Reminds me of my dogs (when I had dogs) shaking themselves after a bath.

Jane

Great work Bob, you have captured a wonderful moment, the suspended water, the colours, details, composition, I shall now throw away my camera and take up needlepoint!!! I like the fact that the setting are all "extreme" but still producing a great shot...the fuji is a good un!! regards h

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-12 11:13]

Hi Bob,
Outstanding shot of this Duck sprinkling water all over. Nice moment captured with skill. Very neat and sharp image with lovely colours and perfect lighting. I like the setting and the natural surrounding. Excellent low POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello bob,

another funny shot.
Lovely inmage from this sphasling duck.

Gert

Hi Bob,

Excellent capture with great composition, nice wildlife action, sharp details, nice POV and BG and natural bright colours.

TFS

Pekka

I adore this photo. The water droplets really enhance this capture, you know? I think Ms. Duck was curious to see if you spotted food - so she could get a free meal, perhaps? Talk about perfect timing - and action!

Well,
What do I say about fidelity!With or without the in prefix!I wish i had somone to come home to, too!
Lucky things, these ducks!And an awesome shot, too!;)
Love this shot, Bob!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3932] (13252)
  • [2008-05-12 19:10]

Hello My Friend,
Great moment caught by your keen eye and steady hand. Great image, note and friend. Thanks Bob.
Rick

Hello Bob. You have a steady pair of hands. Super sharp image captured here freezing the splash brilliantly making this duck looks good in the perspective. Well presented and interesting note. Well done and best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-05-12 23:37]

Hi Bob

Nice frozen action here - the droplets are really beautiful.

Well captured.
James

Namastay Bob,
A nice capture of this nice water freezing scene. Very good depth of field showing the water droplets even at 300mm. Very good noise less composition and clean shot. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-16 22:15]

Hello Bob

A lovely capture of this duck as it shakes off the water.
Talk about capturing the moment.
The droplets are all seen in their wonderful glory.
Well composed in the frame.
The POV is very good,she let you snag a great shot.
TFS
Rob

Hi Bob,

Very still frozen moment in the frame that is otherwise transient.

Subhayan.

Hi Bob¸,

A good capture of the water dropletts and of the ripples which are assets to the composition. The point of view is showing with precision the details and colors of the duck. The subject is well framed. Have a nice day.

Pierre

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