I'm Ready for My Closeup
Feb, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Yorba Regional Park in Orange County, CATime
It was taken mid-morning.Lighting
The day was a little overcast. The duck was swimming in a pond under the canopy of several large trees next to the water. The light background was the reflections from the sky and the trees.Equipment
I used a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with an 100-400 Canon L II lens.Inspiration
Mandarin ducks are very colorful birds. They are not native to North America. The ones we see are descendants of imported ducks. They are not common. I see them only a few times a year at a couple locations in my area. When found, there are usually no more than two pairs. It is always fun to have these opportunities.Editing
Just a little pluses and minuses in a camera raw processing program to enhancing the image.In my camera bag
For wildlife, I use the 7D Mark II and the 100-400 lens; for everything else, I take a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a 24-105 and either a 16-35 or 70-200. I travel light - Canon EOS M.Feedback
To get nice duck reflection shots, I keep two things in mind. First, overcast sky results in a light background that brings out the colors in the reflection; heavy foliage results in a dark background that goes great with other light sources, such as the golden-hour light. Second, one has to get very low to get a good reflection. I have seen photographers position their cameras inches above the water to get reflection shots. I don’t go that low, perhaps a foot above the water at the lowest. Make sure you get the catch light in the animal and reflection. Enjoy and stay dry.
