Just some mallard pics: Here are a few mallard pics I took earlier this evening down at the pond. Hopefully by the end of this summer I can get some action shots of these mallards.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Here are a few mallard pics I took earlier this evening down at the pond. Hopefully by the end of this summer I can get some action shots of these mallards. I've been visiting the pond almost daily this month trying to get the mallards used to seeing me around and getting them used to me using a camera.
Any suggestions that will help me to improve my skills are welcome.

Making a Splash

Mallard

Bottom's Up

belwj Loc: Berkshires, Ma

Mary1946 wrote:

Here are a few mallard pics I took earlier this evening down at the pond. Hopefully by the end of this summer I can get some action shots of these mallards. I've been visiting the pond almost daily this month trying to get the mallards used to seeing me around and getting them used to me using a camera.
Any suggestions that will help me to improve my skills are welcome.

I think that they are quite good as they are.

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

These are great ---> would love to know what lens and settings you used.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

francesca3 wrote:

These are great ---> would love to know what lens and settings you used.

I used a sony 75-300 mm zoom lens on manual setting.
When editing I cropped out a lot of empty space.

1st iso 400, 250mm, f/7.1, 1/1600
2nd iso 800, 250 mm, f/9, 1/2000
3rd iso 1600, 160mm, f/10, 1/4000

I was also experimenting with different manual settings.

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

Mary1946 wrote:

francesca3 wrote:

These are great ---> would love to know what lens and settings you used.

I used a sony 75-300 mm zoom lens on manual setting.
When editing I cropped out a lot of empty space.

1st iso 400, 250mm, f/7.1, 1/1600
2nd iso 800, 250 mm, f/9, 1/2000
3rd iso 1600, 160mm, f/10, 1/4000

I was also experimenting with different manual settings.

Thank you SO much!

Zerbphlatz Loc: Southern New Hampshire

Excellent shots - nice fast shutter and good DOF. Only issue I see is it's a brown duck on a brown background, but there's not much you can do with that. Might help to catch the male duck since they have more color.

Shane T Loc: Central Florida

Well I think you managed to get some good action in all your shots. Nice and clear with some great color. ISO is kinda high in your last shot (grainy/noise) but the composition,color and subject are great.
All in all I would I would say you did a great job! :thumbup: :thumbup:

MtnMan Loc: ID

Love the "bottoms up!" one.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Thank you, all, for your encouraging feedback.
Here are 3 shots of a male mallard I took earlier this morning. They are not exactly bad pics, but not that great either.

iso 800, 300mm, f/8, 1/1000

iso 800, 300mm, f/8, 1/640

MissStephie Loc: West Virginia

I pic the 2nd shot in both groups of pics ;)

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Zerbphlatz wrote:

Excellent shots - nice fast shutter and good DOF. Only issue I see is it's a brown duck on a brown background, but there's not much you can do with that. Might help to catch the male duck since they have more color.

Yep, I, too, noticed how the female mallard blended right into the background.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

MissStephie wrote:

I pic the 2nd shot in both groups of pics ;)

Thank you, MissStephie.

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Mary1946 wrote:

Here are a few mallard pics I took earlier this evening down at the pond. Hopefully by the end of this summer I can get some action shots of these mallards. I've been visiting the pond almost daily this month trying to get the mallards used to seeing me around and getting them used to me using a camera.
Any suggestions that will help me to improve my skills are welcome.

very nice shots, like all of them

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

My first good action picture. I'm glad I went back down to the pond.

iso 400, 300mm, f/8, 1/1600

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Mary1946 wrote:

My first good action picture. I'm glad I went back down to the pond.

Very well done. Great shot