Mandarin Duck - found only in China and Zoos. A friend found three in Florida wild. Probably escaped from captivity.
Apr, 2015Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
Fall Award 2020
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Peer Award
All Star
Genius
Magnificent Capture
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
San Diego Zoo, San Diego CaliforniaTime
Early afternoon, about 1:40 pmLighting
The lighting was unusual in that it was taken in a small Japanese Garden which was total inclosed with trees and foliage. That is how the water came out green. It was a natural color and not photoshopped.Equipment
Camera equipment was a Nikon D300, 300mm F/2.8 AF lens, shot at f/5, 1/400 sec, ISO 200. No fill flash was used but I think I used a tripod for this shot.Inspiration
Not only are the colors on these Mandarin ducks so striking, but also the different textures and patterns. I used to think the American Wood Duck was colorful but these beats it. My son and I were walking around the zoo with these monster lens - he had a 600mm lens on his camera, and large tripods. People kept asking us "are you professionals" or "are you with National Geographic". It was a hoot because neither are true. I just love photography.Editing
I used a little Photoshop sharpening but that was about all.In my camera bag
My normal kit nowdays is a Nikon D800 (fantastic camera), SB800 flash unit, 24-120mm f/4 lens is my walk around lens. I will vary the other lens from the 105mm f/2.8 macro (non VR), 70-200mm f/2.8 VII, and I might even have a teleconverters in the bag. Again, depending on what I'm doing I might have either the 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8 along with me. I have tried to lighten the kit a bit since I turned 73 and hit 74 this July.Feedback
Be patient. Watch the reflection and the light. In this shoot the duck actually swam into a better lite area. Just seconds before it was very darker. And for heaven sakes, don't be afraid to take lots of photos. Just a few years ago when I was shooting film it would have been very expensive to shoot the way I do now. There is no such thing as taking too many pictures unless you have trouble picking out the keepers. With my new D800 I would have let the ISO go higher and used a smaller aperture. But, I think it turned it well.
