Waterfoul Paradise

[Singletracklovr]

I just love this place...
After reading canonBob's sticky on how he shoots I am bound and determined to figure out how to sneak up on this spot.
With my spotting scope I can see Mallards, GreenWinged Teals, Pintails, Mud Hens, Canvas backs, Geese, the beaver who made the area possible and the occasional Coyote checking for any weakness.

[Eric D]

Nice Shot...beautiful scene! Best way to get close to them is just walk right on down to the water, sit down and relax, soon they will be comfortable with you and slowly come back your way. I have learned on all my outings that animals sense your intentions and if harmless.... will come to you!
Good Luck!

[spiraleyes]

Wow, what a great pond! Good luck on your project of getting close!

[OldClicker]

I think it depends A LOT on how 'wild' the place is and how use to people they are. Compare a wilderness area where you would have trouble getting within 100 yards of a deer and the suburban parks where they won't get off the path so you can pass by. Or wild geese that that have look-outs and will spook at a quarter mile vs. those at the local corporate pond that will chase you away. If it is truly wild place that doesn't see many visitors, you're going to need a good blind. - TF

[Ron Kruger]

That's exactly what I was going to say, Clicker.
That's a beautiful shot, with great colors, but it look oversharpened on my monitor.
Except for the grass in the foreground, it's an excellent image as is, and whether it is in a wild area or not--it looks like it.

[Singletracklovr]

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the photo. Sometimes we spend so much time trying to get as close as possible we forget to take the camera out on the way there.

OC and Ron, Yeah, these guys a skitish.
It takes me 1 hour by Mtn Bike to get to this spot. No roads just a horse trail. I'm told the land belongs to the RR. No one goes there since the beavers moved in and flooded the trail.
If they spot anything within 150 yards the goose alarm goes off, the Teal split first then the Pintails. That comotion brings all the geese heads up and before you know it. It's you and the stream.

Ron the shot could be over sharpened. I usually apply an unsharpen mask of 99/.8/0. After seeing the picture I compressed to load here it looks to me like there is too much contrast and that is blowing out the reflection off the trees. My monitor calibrator in in the mail, I can't wait.
Still learning...

[Singletracklovr]

Here is the photo straight from the NEF(RAW) file. Just resized and converted from aRGB to jpeg.
Camera settings: 1/250, f16, -1.0DEV, ISO 400
Lens nikon 70-300 5.6, shot taken at 300mm VR on, with CLP filter.