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

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

A beautiful set, richly coloured and sharp, nice one.

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

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

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

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'!

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

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.

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

Regards

Mat

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

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

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