Mallard Drake Portrait – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last month while waiting on a Belted Kingfisher to appear at a local pond I also photographed some Mallards that were nearby in Salt Lake County. Some of the ducks were bathing in the water and some were resting on the shore of the small pond.
I was able to take a Mallard drake portrait of one of the ducks that were close and loved how this showed the blue green iridescence.
I know they are common, I know that they can be annoying and I also know photographers who won’t stop to photograph them. I’m not one of those photographers. A bird is a bird, right? And mallards are handsome ducks.
I do have my Nikon D810 back in my hands. I haven’t been able to take it out and use it yet but should be able to do that tomorrow or today if I see a sucker hole in the clouds I can drive down to the local pond and test it out on some ducks.
I was asked where I took it to get it repaired and thought I would add a link to Spencer’s Camera & Photo for photographers in the Salt Lake Valley area. I have my D810 back much quicker taking it to Spencer’s than if I had sent it to Nikon!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mallard photos plus facts and information about this species.
LOVE that iridescence. Common? Perhaps. Beautiful? Most definitely.
Beautiful. I like all birds but I get annoyed with mallards due to their aggressive breading behavior. They will kill females while trying to mate with them. In the spring I feel like rehabbing them is like running a rape crisis center.
Kind of sad, but because Mallards are so beautiful with their shiny, iridescent green heads, white neck bands, and blue wing bands, if they were more rare, photographers would be all over them. Just because they’re so “common”, those sillies aren’t interested and miss some beautiful opportunities….glad you’re an “appreciator” and not one of those characters….
Oh! Boy! Beautiful! Love this portrait! Love the iridescence. We used to have a mated pair on our tiny pond, named Donald and Daisy…no originality there. Donald got very territorial, started chasing horses then cars and trucks and ended up on the road, chasing one too many. He was very beautiful, except in his winter plumage, when he lost his beautiful green head feathers for his winter browns. As kids, we were amazed by the transition….
Plumb outta sight Mia. That is a drop dead gorgeous photo.