DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Muscovy Duck In Profile
Muscovy Duck In Profile
scarbrd


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Portrait Of A Wild Bird (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM
Location: Houston, TX
Date: Dec 26, 2009
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Portraiture, Animals
Date Uploaded: Dec 27, 2009

 another one of my infamous ugly ducks that hang around Hermann Park in Houston. I never do well with these ducks, but I really like them.

I really tried to go for a "portrait" look on this. I don't think it will matter much in the long run, but it seems appropriate for the challenge.

[Dec. 29th, 2009 11:50:36 AM]

still tracking over 7.1 nearing 100 votes.

A couple of commenters have asked if this guy really is "wild".

He and several others like him live at Hermann Park in Houston. It has a bird sanctuary area in the man made lake in the park.

In as much as the herons, geese, finches, and several other birds in the area are wild, these guys are wild, too. They do not seem to fear people, but they do not let you get real close either. I used the 70-200 at 200mm and still had to crop about 50% to get this.

They are not caged or forced to stay in the area, they breed at will, but I don't know if they would be technically classified as "wild".

I wonder if it's any different than eagles, whooping cranes or any of the protected species whose habitats are protected and breeding and numbers are monitored.

I've photographed these ducks for other challenges, usually mired in the mid to low 5 scores. Good to see this one doing well.



[Jan. 3rd, 2010 11:29:58 PM]

Well, lost my 7 today. 35 minutes before roll over and sitting at 6.97. Maybe rollover will be kind.

I am glad this one is doing well. I've always thought these ducks were amazing looking. I've entered them in several challenges, none of which did this well.



Statistics
Place: 9 out of 138
Avg (all users): 6.9686
Avg (commenters): 7.7826
Avg (participants): 6.8462
Avg (non-participants): 7.0317
Views since voting: 2557
Views during voting: 365
Votes: 191
Comments: 34
Favorites: 2 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 01/11/2010 03:00:39 AM
Yikes - the orange bubbles looks very uncomfortable but sure it's just a 'feature' rather than a disease...
Great shot though and congrats with a top 10 placing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 01:49:49 PM
Gotta say he takes the prize here for looks:)..
Great shot!! AND Very nice placement..
This was a tough challenge and fun one too..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 09:48:19 AM
I moved into a cheap apartment in Tampa for a span of two months due to snafus in my assigment to my next job. I had myself, a futon, a lawn chair, a laptop computer, two cats, and a coffee pot. Came home from work one evening, settled into the lawn chair (which was inside, of course) and there was a knocking at the door. Well no one really knew I was there, so I wondered who it could be. Opened the door - no one was there - heard "Quack!" - looked down, and there were three Muscovy ducks just standing there, casual as can be, waiting to be fed. Apparently the previous tenant would feed them. They knocked almost every evening after that. I had to buy Cheerios just for them.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 09:32:07 AM
Gotta love a muscovy for it's great looks :- )

Nice shot and tough break on losing your 7+
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 08:53:25 AM
Nice finish for a duck shot here on dpc. One of thes guys flew into the side of my car one day as I was driving.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 08:00:31 AM
Amazing detail, just a great shot. Congratulations on your top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 04:51:33 AM
Man , this is SUPERB !!!!!! Super shot Dave & congrats on the Top10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2010 03:13:34 AM
it has style... :) congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2010 11:47:30 PM
Congrats on top ten David! Very cool shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2010 11:15:52 PM
a brilliant portrait shot awesome detail .. great result!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/03/2010 05:28:56 PM
voted this pretty high because of the detail over all...excellent job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2010 01:07:56 PM
Excellent details on all parts of the bird. Different textures of the beak vs feathers vs face is excellent. Nicely lit as well. (no vote, just making a few comments)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2010 11:37:24 AM
Nice headshot with great detail. The photo is beautiful . . . can't necessarily say the same for the bird!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2010 06:16:10 AM
Cheerful, isn't he? Good detail and lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2010 03:25:42 AM
Not familiar w this duck...What a head he has..
Well done!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2009 01:04:08 PM
A little Proactiv will clear that right up. :P Great detail and color here!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2009 11:34:10 AM
Very nice. S/he looks like s/he is smiling.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2009 09:29:32 AM
Nice shot, the nostril almost deceives as an eye, 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2009 08:20:39 AM
Ha, great detail, and a true portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2009 05:39:30 AM
This guy looks ever so proud! We may think they're funny looking - ugly, even - but he thinks he's a stud, and by Muscovy standards, he probably is! Great portrait of the guy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 07:28:01 PM
great shot - top 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 03:42:15 PM
Very nice detail and colors here. It looks like he wants your sandwich. ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 10:13:31 AM
Great detail! He looks a little evil, though ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 07:52:56 AM
Textbook quality. Textbook ugly!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 03:51:58 AM
He's almost smiling. LOL Great focus!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2009 12:00:49 AM
is it wild?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 05:45:17 PM
Ugly little fella. Nice shot, although I'm not sure this is exactly a wild bird... Still going to score high.

Are you the Zohar? If not, you have pleased the Zohar! (See forum for more information)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 05:18:44 PM
That's one crazy looking duck there...very nice close-up. Great detail in this portrait!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 10:09:38 AM
Where is the world does this guy reside?? Great image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 09:53:19 AM
Must be the before shot. :) This is really a wonderful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 03:37:29 AM
Great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2009 12:27:19 AM
This is really really good!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/27/2009 10:18:29 PM
What a face. Nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/27/2009 07:39:18 PM
Tied for first with one of my two 10s. So adorably ugly. *grin*
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/07/2025 02:57:55 AM EDT.