An omission I regret.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
About a month ago, not long after I bought my new camera, I posted a series of photos of this male Northern Shoveler taken soon after he lifted off from a canal at Bear River MBR. But I left this photo out of the series and I shouldn’t have. I didn’t include it for two reasons, both of which turned out to be bogus.
- his wings were in a horizontal position, a wing position I’ve told myself for years I don’t like.
- just glancing at the unprocessed image I didn’t think I had enough room in the frame above the bird for a suitable composition without adding canvas, which I don’t like to do.
But last night I revisited the photo, processed it for the first time, and discovered that I had plenty of room in the frame (thanks to the 45 MP file size of the R5) and I actually liked the wing position – at least in this instance. The way his wingtips curl up on either side of his lower neck appeals to me and he has a head turn toward me that I hadn’t noticed before. That head turn brought out the iridescent green sheen of his head and neck.
So today I’m posting the photo. I regret leaving it out and I think it deserves to be seen.
Ron
Notes:
- If you didn’t see the original series it can be seen here. If I had included it, this photo would have been #4 in the series.
- In the upper right hand corner of the original photo there was a tiny portion of a coot in the frame. I reluctantly removed it because the black was so distracting.
So much to like about this shot; not the least of which are the beautiful green, orange, and gold of the head, feet, and eye, respectively. Glad it survived your itchy trigger finger. 😉
The knowledge that a coot tried to photobomb your shot makes me giggle a little. They’re such assholes sometimes and that’s why I like them so much. 😂
Marty, it was actually two of the little assholes that photobombed my shot but after cropping the image there was only a small portion of one of them left. And I zapped it.
The Society for Northern Shovel Ducks will withdraw their complaint about quackery.
Good. I was worried…
I am soooo glad that you revisited. Yet more confirmation that you need someone else to view your photos before you decide that they are not worth publishing. You are DEFINITELY your own worst critic.
Probably so, EC. At least this time I tried to rectify the situation.
You did. It is my greedy and selfish self that wonders how many other gems are yet to see the light of day.
EC, me too!
Me three!
Thank you for adding this – it really does complete the previous series. The gap in the wing position especially, but also the further tucking of his feet, and the water dripping off them. Guess we don’t know what we’re missing until we see it, sometimes!
Thanks, Carolyn. I’m glad you appreciated the addition to the series.
Thank you for posting this shot Ron – really shows off all the gorgeous coloring on this handsome duck! Can’t look at that ‘shovel’ without thinking how tasty it is for a coyote LOL.
Your last sentence made me smile, Kathleen. Once you’ve seen those photos they’re hard to forget.
I like that it has that wing position – you don’t often see that in photos. Very nice shot. Like the colors and the feet tucking in just like a plane retracting its wheels. Neat too that you can see the water still dripping off.
Our are all gone and very likely up there in Utah somewhere.
Everett, I almost mentioned that dripping water in my text. I like it too.
Most of our shovelers are gone now too.
I could have told you not to leave this photo out of the original sequence if only you’d have asked.😁 Though not apparent in the series, you have provided a missing link that is fun to mentally insert and see how it adds to it.
Lyle, next time I’ll definitely ask you! I should have this time…
Possibly my favorite duck, next to the wood duck. I am happy that both are currently back on the lake in Englewood. Really nice photo!
Thanks, Connie.
Great to be able to go back and “reconsider”….. 🙂 Personally, I love the wing position in this case and the whole shot which also emphasizes the “shovel” at the front….. 😉
Thanks, Judy. Yup, I changed my mind…