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Mike Reshitnyk | all galleries >> Galleries >> Fun With Ducks and Birds ----------------------- Ravissement avec les canards et les oiseaux -------- > 2005 World Aquatic Championship Syncronized Foot-Landing Duck-Style
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2005 World Aquatic Championship Syncronized Foot-Landing Duck-Style


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Mike Reshitnyk26-Jul-2005 14:43
Greetings, Jeremy:
In answer to your question why ducks, it's simply because they were there, accesible and willing to be photographed :-)
Ducks are one of the most accesible of birds to humans. In my early days of digital cameras when quality wasn't what it is today and with no access to proper zoom lenses, ducks were an obvious choice. At the time my wife was beginning to turn towards my duck pics for her art/painting hobby. One day, a duck took off in flight in front of me, and I managed to capture it - a great pic - and the first that Louise used in a painting! Overjoyed with my chance success, it became my goal, and now an obsession, to capture ducks in flight (and Greater Snow at Cap Tourmente).
I am lucky to have an access to ducks in my local area year-round, which of course raises my controlled "chances" of taking good pics. I also spend a lot of time with the ducks, as well as spend time in the water with them - to the point that they are used to me and either interact with me as if I was another duck or simply ignore me.
This then lead me to observe and study their habits, which is the second important element to good duck photography (the first being access). Knowing when a duck is going to take off in front of you really helps in capturing that great image!
Then there are other reasons - like standing chest-deep in freezing river water in -15 below zero ambiant tempaerture while waiting for your chance to capture that duck sure beats sitting behind some desk doing something you don't want to do :-)
And contrary to shooting ducks with a rifle or shot-gun, the ducks are available again the next day for me to shoot again with my camera.
Since then, (although I haven't been posting them on my album site), I've evolved into general bird photography, and my wife has followed along with her bird art work.
Cheers, Mike.
optimist25-Jul-2005 00:27
I just can't get over the fact that you seem to specialize in duck photography--and I do mean specialize, as your duck shots are quite special/extraordinary. I would like to know a bit more about what draws you so to ducks. I'm sure there is an interesting story there. Anyway, great shot.
Al Chesworth19-Jul-2005 20:41
Superb image.
Guest 19-Jul-2005 16:55
This pic would be great on a stamp.
Mike Reshitnyk19-Jul-2005 14:11
Rene: The title is in honour of the 2005 World Aquatic Championships which are curently being held in Montreal.
Rene Hales19-Jul-2005 13:45
Great shot and I love the title.--Rene
Guest 19-Jul-2005 13:43
Fabulous image Mike. Your timing and composition are impeccable and the subject is wonderfully colourful and interesting.
John
Sheila19-Jul-2005 12:55
And this is the winner!! What a great capture.
viljamix19-Jul-2005 12:05
Excellent capture with nice composition and wonderful colors!
Guest 19-Jul-2005 11:34
This one is better than yesterday -))