![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/mallard-7693b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"mallard-7693b-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nWhen things go right, a lot of things, photos of ducks in flight can have a certain elegance that is unique to them.<\/p>\n
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1\/6400, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n This is a grab shot taken yesterday afternoon at a local pond. The Mallard pair flew in unexpectedly so I had no time to adjust camera settings. It was one of those spray and pray situations that actually worked out, allowing me to get about a dozen sharp shots that included both birds. This one was my favorite.<\/p>\n Ducks in flight are hard, especially when there are several birds in the frame. I like this one for the contrasting wing positions, the good separation between subjects, the shooting angle from slightly in front of the ducks, I have catch lights in the eyes of both birds and both ducks are sharp. That beautiful green head of the male is the perfect initial eye-grabber as the viewer begins to scan the image.<\/p>\n For me one of the primary strengths of the photo is its old-timey feel. Growing up in Montana in the 50’s it seemed like every barber shop, car dealership and even doctor’s and dentist’s office had a painting or photo of Mallards in flight similar to this one hanging on the wall to accompany the stack of Field and Stream magazines in their waiting area . So for many old farts like me there’s a certain nostalgia associated with photos like this one.<\/p>\n In the duck world Mallards don’t get a lot of attention from photographers but I think that can be a mistake.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When things go right, a lot of things, photos of ducks in flight can have a certain elegance that is unique to them.<\/p>\n