Mrs Mallard up from the lake to enjoy our fountain...A wild Mallard Hen, gave her a change of pace.
Mrs Mallard up from the lake to enjoy our fountain...A wild Mallard Hen, gave her a change of pace.
Read less
Read less
Views
306
Likes
Awards
Winner in Ducks Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
We live on a lake but have a fountain on our patio. Mrs Mallard would make frequent trips up from the lake to just enjoy a Spa Day at our fountain pool. She would eventually bring her babies up to spend time in the fountain with her. I think it became a safe space for her.Time
Early morning. I remember sitting on our patio, drinking coffee, taking pictures of geese that were swimming on our lake. Mrs Mallard startled me when she jumped up onto the wall surrounding our fountain pond. She saw me and froze for a bit and that's when I took the picture.Lighting
Early morning soft light. A favorite time to shoot.Equipment
Nikon D7500, one of a number of Nikkor f2.8 lenses. I think I had my 70-200 AF-S f2.8 VRII on that morning. No flash.Inspiration
We are blessed to have an abundance of wildlife here on the lake. Mrs. Mallard and her partner adopted us this past year and decided we were OK to spend time with on our patio. I'd never really been befriended by a wild duck before and was hoping to capture a closeup of her at some point. She decided to pose this particular morning.Editing
Only cropping on post-processing. Everything else was just where it needed to be.In my camera bag
Nikon digital bodies and lenses (I've an assortment...D7500, D300, D200, D100 and several f2.8 lenses). I also have a Lumix point and shoot with me at all times (usually in my vest pocket if I'm wearing one).Feedback
Fast glass telephoto lenses are perfect for wildlife photography. You either have to keep your distance and stay downwind or out of sight if at all possible, or, you can have pretty good luck with birdfeeders for songbirds and know that any wildbirds in the area will eventually find that source of food as well. Perhaps some wild Mallards will befriend you and you too can enjoy their company and catch some portraits.