alanpeterson PRO+
alanpeterson
Duckling Splash

Duckling Splash



A young Wood Duck shakes off its bill while feeding in Sequoia Park.

A young Wood Duck shakes off its bill while feeding in Sequoia Park.
Read less
cameraNIKON D500

settings Aperture f/8 ISO 640 Shutter 1/2500 Focal Length 8000/10 

upload_dateMay, 2017

Views

689

Likes

Awards

People's Choice in ducks and geese Photo Challenge
Peer Award
LeeVarland awolslegelcomcastnet TuxCats5 KaKiteTokuKanohi angeljesview4us causettadawn annagreen +46
Top Choice
RLP073 Aarti_Sachin_Soman marinabarbagelata Teri_P henrydemarco nancylam Ramona12Photography +7
Magnificent Capture
Retiree rifkind1969 artcrowther thecatsmeow kristitimmons JCoombs acglock +3
Superb Composition
WMazuera KenyaJaxon Veija tgainer SherranAndersen MonaClementsPhotography fredsaunders +2
Absolute Masterpiece
LotusRadiante daisygurl7 Elmes Irys andrevondeling TracyS_RDN Kenkidner +2
Virtuoso
larryollivier tndeberecz
Genius
GWarrenPhotog
All Star
mjbranscome
Superior Skill
miriamrashleigh

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#animals #bird #birds #california #duck #duckling #humboldt #nature #waterfowl #wildlife #wood duck

Top ClassTM

Shades Of Brown ProjectTop 10 class
Shades Of Brown ProjectTop 10 class week 1
Small Wildlife Photo ContestTop 10 class
Small Wildlife Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Spring Photo Contest 2018Top 10 class
View more
Spring Photo Contest 2018Top 10 class week 1
Anything Babies Photo ContestTop 20 class
Anything Babies Photo ContestTop 20 class week 1
Wildlife And Water Photo ContestTop 10 class
A Low Vantage Point Photo ContestTop 10 class
A Low Vantage Point Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Cute Baby Animals Photo ContestTop 10 class
Cute Baby Animals Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
The Brown Color Photo ContestTop 10 class
The Brown Color Photo ContestTop 10 class week 2
The Brown Color Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Animals And Water Photo ContestTop 10 class
Animals And Water Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Macro Games Photo ContestTop 10 class
Macro Games Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Summer Time Photo ContestTop 10 class
Summer Time Photo ContestTop 10 class week 2
Summer Time Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Wildlife Babies Photo ContestTop 10 class
Wildlife Babies Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Epic Puddles Photo ContestTop 10 class
Epic Puddles Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 33 Photo ContestTop 10 class
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 9Top 10 class
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 9Top 10 class week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 39Top 20 class
Covers Photo Contest Vol 39Top 30 class week 2
Covers Photo Contest Vol 39Top 20 class week 1
Tiny Photo ContestTop 10 class
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 22Top 20 class
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 8Top 10 class
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 8Top 10 class week 2
Tiny Photo ContestTop 10 class week 1
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 22Top 10 class week 2
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 8Top 10 class week 1
Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 22Top 10 class week 1

Categories

7 Comments | Report
kathyk_abq
 
kathyk_abq May 21, 2017
Adorable!
starting PRO+
 
starting June 03, 2017
Great capture and oh so adorable!
kristitimmons PRO+
 
kristitimmons October 26, 2017
So absolutely adorable! Your talent is amazing!
Irys
 
Irys April 03, 2018
Beautiful!
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots April 03, 2018
Amazing capture! Congrats.
JM18Photography PRO+
 
JM18Photography April 03, 2018
Congratulations!
Banie
 
Banie April 04, 2018
Congrats with your winning image. Love it and well deserved.

Same photographer See all

A Barn Swallow feeding its fledglings at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. A young Northern Harrier patrols the freshwater ponds at Arcata Marsh as the sun sets. As a Gentoo Penguin chick wakes up from a nap, its parent bends over for a feeding. A Chinstrap Penguin cares for its chicks on a rookery above Orne Harbor along the Antarctic Peninsula. An Anna's Hummingbird is startled by a passing bee. A Short-eared Owl at sunset in Arcata Bottoms

Discover more photos See all

A massive bull elk walked out of the woods so close I could barely fit him in my lens! Moth on wilted sunflower. Landing These two grew up together and really are the best of friends! Untitled Very close and up

Behind The Lens

Location
This duckling is from Sequoia Park in Eureka, California. A small pond in a wooded canyon there serves as ideal habitat for Wood Ducks, and a pair of nest boxes installed by a volunteer last year has made it easier for them to breed on site.
Time
This was taken during the late afternoon. With towering trees on three sides of the pond, there are only a few hours of sunlight that reach the water toward the accessible shores. Afternoons are the best time for duck photography in Sequoia Park.
Lighting
Only natural light is at work here.
Equipment
I took this photo with a Nikon D500 and Sigma 300-800mm zoom, handheld.
Inspiration
Wood Duck drakes have some of the most striking colors found in waterfowl, and their ducklings are absolutely adorable. I always make at least a couple trips during their breeding season to photograph and film them in Sequoia Park.
Editing
I made basic color balance and contrast curve adjustments to the image and cropped it for composition.
In my camera bag
For bird photography, I use a Nikon D500 and Sigma 300-800mm zoom, which I sling over my shoulder with a padded strap while hiking.
Feedback
Wood Ducks are wary of people, so it usually takes a considerable amount of time sitting silently in one spot before they swim in for a closeup shot like this. I recommend picking a spot that has a clear view of their regular feeding areas and finding a position that allows you to sit comfortably while still operating your camera. Instead of a tripod or a monopod, try resting your camera on a large sandbag or a plank of wood to get your lens closer to your subject's eye level.

See more amazing photos, Follow alanpeterson