American Black Duck - Prints and Canvas

NOTE: Watermarks do not print on the image. It is for online safeguarding only.

Waterfowl have some of the most beautiful plumage and it shows in the males (drakes) of the species. Some are simple and have a little color and others are strikingly flamboyant. The American Black Duck (and the Mexican Duck, if we're being honest) has a more simple pattern that is a little less interesting to photograph. But when the light is perfect and the environment is perfect you do what you must to have some kind of image available.

I was in the Grand Tetons for the first time and the group I was with were photographing the sunrise. The sun came up (and it was gorgeous) and then the birds started flying. Ducks were coming out of the reeds like clowns piling out of a car. This drake was not alone but was isolated enough and posed perfectly for his photograph. The light was coming in through some slight fog in the freezing temperatures that morning a welcome relief even though I love the cold.

I think I took about a thousand images this day the bulk of which came from this area of the park. How many were usable? That's debatable. My friends tell me I tend to make way too many images of one thing, but they have traveled far more than I have and I have a collection of ducks I'd like to complete someday.

The American Black Duck is available as a framed print or a gallery wrap canvas. He fits perfectly on the latter.