Mallard drake in landing pose – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
I came across this photo a few days ago that I had taken in December of 2016 at a local pond in Salt Lake County and I processed the file to share here on my blog because I like the landing pose of the duck.
I don’t often have the opportunity of taking photos of ducks that are flying straight at me while coming in for a landing which is exactly what this drake mallard did. It was winter and there was only a small area of open water close to where I sat in a “mobile blind” and that was where this drake landed.
I’m not sure that photographing at that pond is going to be very productive at all this winter due to a change in policy at that city park but maybe the ducks, gulls & geese will still show up.
I hope they do because I have had so much fun photographing them over the years that I have lived here in Utah and because the pond is close enough that I can be there in just a matter of minutes.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mallard photos plus facts and information about this species.
Bombs away! Great pic Mia. Thanks
What a crazy angle to capture! I hope you had your mouth closed! It’s one thing to have a frog in your throat, but a BIG, FAT, MALLARD DRAKE?????
A truly awesome photo. Thank you. Sigh on the changed regulations.
And a sigh at internet issues too.
What changes in the park would affect your ability to photograph birds?
And just OH WOW! What an outrageously beautiful image! Thank you so much for sharing!
Laura, someone complained about people feeding the ducks bread at that park so the city posted signs that no feeding at all is allowed unlike the park just a bit further away where you are allowed to feed the ducks the healthier food that the (same) city supplies. I find it troubling that at one park no feeding at all is allowed and the other it is.
Oh that’s just STUPID to provide food at one park and not the other. Somebody’s got their heads in a very dark place and needs to pull it out! Humans! Jeesh!
almost looks like a painting…wow
Thanks Steve.
DUCK!! (Pun intended)
That made me laugh out loud!
Nice one! Were you hand-holding the lens for this one or supporting the lens on your over the window “noodle”? If the latter, especially good job.
Marie, I was resting my lens on my noodle to take this image. I have been thinking about going with a lighter lens/TC combo because I am tired of not having full mobility when photographing active birds. I miss hand holding but my 500mm VR lens is just so heavy.
Oh, that’s awesome! lol
Thanks Kim!
So funny! Thanks for sharing. Life is good!
Thank you Ilze.