Duck! (Portraits)

Hello again all. I was up at the pond with the DA* 300 today and grabbed a few more duck shots (apologies to anyone who doesn't like ducks). If I say so myself, the results were quite pleasing(); thought I would share a handful...

First up, the Pochard tries out his hypno-stare...



Mallard puffs his chest out (lovely boy...):



Mandarin looks like he's had a blow-dry... all a bit bouffant, but I think it's a look he can carry off...



Here's another caught mid-shake (presumably just stepped out of the salon):



Finally, the lady Mandarina poses for a portrait:



I hope you like them. C&C welcome as usual.

Best Regards

Mat W

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

Wow, that last one is just beautiful. Nicely focused.

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"Just put your eye to the camera and push the button-thingy."
Flickr page:
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A beautiful set, richly coloured and sharp, nice one.

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My piccies.

Lovely set Mat, the last one is absolutely superb and I like the head on shot in number 1, different.

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Regards John/Jumbo

Lovely shots Mat, wish I could get out sometime this Easter without getting drenched!

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Plenty of stuff - not enough time....

Thanks everyone. I think I got lucky today, I think, as I was out in the day's dry spell, and just as I was taking these the sun came out I agree that those red eyes in the first are a bit freaky, and I was so pleased with quite how sharp the last one came out - I can never quite be sure until I get the pics on my computer - here's hoping for a few nice weekends in the near future...

Regards

Mat W

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

1, 3 and 5 for me. I must admit I am getting quite fond of ducks since I came back to photography. All the cast at Arundel WWT are quite obliging.

Same here, and I like them all Mat. The first one is a little reminiscent of the penguin on Wallace and Gromit's 'The Wrong Trousers'!

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http://www.pbase.com/iberg

Thanks again folks. I know what you mean about the penguin on the wrong trousers I find myself always drawn to the ducks in the park. I went on a bird photography workshop with the wildlife photographer Chris Weston a while ago, and after that thought I would practice my technique with the local birds... the ducks were the most obliging and I've been recording them ever since, and they are very funny to watch...they also make some fantastic squeaks and whistles...

Regards

Mat

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

Ohh definitely number 2 for me. I'm surprised no one else picked it. I love it, the unusual crop, the strong curves, and the perfect DOF and razor sharp focus.

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Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
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Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
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Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!

Thanks Tim. Much appreciated. I like that one too.

Regards

Mat

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

Here`s some less friendly critturs (for those who don`t like ducks) and their offspring - taken at my sister`s in Jersey last year with *istD and 70-300 FAJ.
Nowhere near as good as yours Mat but I`ll keep trying.

Tony

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K20D,*istD ( now a dedicated M42 digital ),K100D,MZ5N,P50,ME Super,Spotmatic 1000,Spotmatic,ESII,ES,H2.18-55 II,18-55,75-300 FAJ,35-80 FA,80-200 F,28-105 FA,Sigma 24-70 AF Aspherical,Sigma 28-300 Hyperzoom , Praotor II 500 M42,Centon 500mm mirror,and a few Pentax M42 Taks,super-Taks,smc Taks,A and M lenses.Benbo trekker,7dayshop monopod and a Lowepro rucksack.

I am now on Flickr which is nice !

I like that one Tony It has that slightly chaotic feel to it which comes with having a load of geese in one place Some of the Geese in Richmond Park have goslings now - they're cure but they move so fast!

Nice one!

Mat W

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

Thanks Mat - this was part of a flock of about 50 in the field - one of which was called Libby ( cos she was born on Liberation day ) and thought my sister was her mum.
She would come at a call,follow them for a walk,and ecventually eat from my hand ( taken on my phone camera so I can`t really show it here ).
Sadly because of neighbour pressure they were all culled this winter/spring as they were leaving a lot of poo and creating noise pollution and the flock was growing bigger - wrong in my book but I don`t live there !

Tony

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K20D,*istD ( now a dedicated M42 digital ),K100D,MZ5N,P50,ME Super,Spotmatic 1000,Spotmatic,ESII,ES,H2.18-55 II,18-55,75-300 FAJ,35-80 FA,80-200 F,28-105 FA,Sigma 24-70 AF Aspherical,Sigma 28-300 Hyperzoom , Praotor II 500 M42,Centon 500mm mirror,and a few Pentax M42 Taks,super-Taks,smc Taks,A and M lenses.Benbo trekker,7dayshop monopod and a Lowepro rucksack.

I am now on Flickr which is nice !