I can be way too picky when it comes to sharing my images. Today I’ll explain why with these urban drake Common Merganser photos taken at my local pond.
Urban drake Common Merganser – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had beautiful afternoon light, a great subject up close, the reflections on the water were wonderful, and all of my images of this bird turned out well. But I looked at the drake Common Merganser photos at home and never processed any of the images until today.
Why?
Drake Common Merganser on a neighborhood pond – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Simply because the green iridescence of this drake’s head in his finest breeding plumage wasn’t blatantly obvious. That green iridescence can be challenging to capture when the light isn’t at a precise angle. The photos I took two years ago of this drake barely showed any of that green at all.
Common Merganser drake about to dive – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
So my images of this drake Common Merganser have resided in my archives without being touched. Just stored away, for what?
Today I decided that is more than just a bit nit-picky of me. I quite often see Common Merganser drakes where their greenish head isn’t flat out noticeable in the field. This is the way they look when it doesn’t. I have to get over some of my own harshest standards. I need to get over myself.
Usually I see Common Mergansers at my local ponds at this time of the year and have my best opportunities to photograph them. Regretfully, this winter I haven’t had a single Common Merganser in my viewfinder. I hope that changes soon because it won’t be long before they migrate to their breeding grounds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.
Green or not, he’s a beaut!
you wright “I have to get over some of my own harshest standards.” Yes, that´s a good idea, but, you also need to learn about light and how it works. And to accept that nature is not a book with painted pages. Colors changes due to lighting situations.
Hehe! Love this post. Attractive bird with or without the iridescence. But the part about “getting over” yourself made me laugh. It’s probably something a whole heaping lot of us struggle with.
Even without the green iridescence on display he is a beautiful bird.
My husband introduced me to bird watching and you. He was am an avid birthed and he followed your posts. Yes, now I remember he did tell me there was some green on this bird’s head. Thank you for posting. I may say that I love your photos and your explanations.