Guarding Her Flock [Contest Winner Pool July 2009 Animals and Pet Photography]
Uploaded: July 10, 2009 01:19:26
This is dedicated to Ann Coates, whose lovely swan photos prompted me to visit the local park Thursday.
Note: the "halo" of brighter water is natural ~ a tree's shadow fell across the water surrounding the ducklings, but didn't cover the mother's head. Still, I do think her smile is angelic, don't you? ;-)
Exif: F Number: 3.1, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 10/2000 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 29.00 mm, Model: FinePix S7000
Paul E. Earl July 10, 2009
Extremely cute! A lovely image, Mary! #1152160Brett Dolsen July 10, 2009
Wonderfull animal composition Mary!!Great timing!Brett #7723980Kerry Hill July 10, 2009
Ohhh this is so gorgeous, Mary!! Fantastic composition and details!! I'm sure Ann will love this!! #7723995Michelle Alton July 10, 2009
An apt dedication, Mary. This is wonderful--the way they lined up in perfect symmetry for you. Not sure how it's possible to actually "smile" with a hard bill for a mouth, but she DOES seem to be "kvelling" with pride! (untranslatable Yiddish word for something that a proud parent does) #7724019Ann Coates July 10, 2009
Mary, I am so glad you were prompted to go to the park and thank you so much for your kind words. Your capture of this lovely family is outstanding. I love the way mother duck is looking proudly over her brood and how you have captured her wee ones busily doing what ducks do best. Fantastic timing and composition Mary and once again thank you. You have put a smile on my face tonight. #7724079Nadya Johnson July 10, 2009
Love it, Mary! What a fabulous shot! #7724084Mary K. Robison July 10, 2009
Thanks very much, Paul, Brett, Kerry, Michelle, and Nadya, for your encouraging comments. You've made my day!Ann Coates July 10, 2009
Mary, that is very sweet of you. Look forward to seeing some more duckie captures. #7724122Tammy M. Anderson July 10, 2009
This is wonderful, Mary. I bet you are glad you went to the park. Composition, clarity and details are perfect. Love it! #7724131Tiia Vissak July 10, 2009
very sweet! #7724261Mary K. Robison July 10, 2009
Thank you for your friendly comments, ladies!Kirsten Kiki Kjaer July 10, 2009
It sure is, Mary. The love of a mother...!!Karen Engelbreth July 10, 2009
So cute and wonderful - love it, Mary... #7725099Sam Britt July 10, 2009
Terrific image, very sweet, Mary. #7726179Patricia Ronan July 10, 2009
Fantastic composition and beautiful light and colour in this really sweet capture Mary:) #7726417Maria Warren July 10, 2009
THIS IS SO GORGEOUS!!!!!! THE COLOR THE LIGHT IS GREAT #7726475Phillip R. Connolly July 10, 2009
Did you discuss the composition with these subjects before capturing it, Mary!!! lol Great capture!! Couldn't have been planned better!!Phil #7726512
Mary K. Robison July 10, 2009
Kirsten, Karen, Sam, Patricia, Maria, and Phil, thanks so much for your friendly and supportive words. I really appreciate them!Evy Johansen July 11, 2009
Aw, this is such a wonderful capture, Mary!! Wonderful clarity and colors! Great compositon! (LOL, Phillip!!!) #7727221Ujjwal Mukherjee July 11, 2009
Wonderful moment captured here,Mary with excellent timing! The light and composition are just fabulous!! #7727257Max Aureli July 11, 2009
Great shot, Mary!!! Love the way the guardian is posing!! Fantastic colors and lighting!! Great timing!! #7727335Mary K. Robison July 11, 2009
Thanks very much for your encouraging comments, Evy, Ujjwal, and Max. I appreciate every word!! #7727341Lynne Morris July 11, 2009
Wow this is a beautiful capture Mary, great light and colours, lovely work. #7727345Cindy Bendush July 11, 2009
A very touching image Mary! Mama ducks do such a good job with their broods and are so much fun to watch. Love how you've captured everybody together here :-) #7727369Laura E. Swan July 11, 2009
Symmetrical perfection, wonderful dedication to Ann and a really cute shot, Mary!!! Love it!!!-Laura :) #7730100
Mary K. Robison July 11, 2009
Thank you, Lynne, Cindy, and Laura, for such warm and friendly comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the photo! #7730143Tommy E. Burgess July 11, 2009
Fantastic capture of this beautiful family Mary!! #7730155Mary K. Robison July 12, 2009
Thanks for commenting on this, Tommy! I appreciate your feedback. #7731288Colleen Farrell July 14, 2009
Wow, fabulous capture of this family, Mary! They couldn't have been "arranged" any better if you'd posed them yourself! Love it! #7739456Mary K. Robison July 14, 2009
Thanks, Colleen ~ glad you like it!Gail Vitikacs July 16, 2009
This is such a lovely capture Mary!! #7744465Mary K. Robison July 16, 2009
Thanks for commenting, Gail! #7744767Alex T. Mizuno July 16, 2009
Great wildlife photo Mary! It's just like one scene from BBC's "Planet Earth". The lighting and comp are really magical! #7747023Mary K. Robison July 17, 2009
I'm glad you like it, Alex! Thanks for commenting. #7747617Chris Ebben July 23, 2009
I think you did a wonderful job on this one, I only wish I could have been there too. And I'm sure I can see the Mother smiling. Wonderful work=^..^= #7776647Mary K. Robison July 24, 2009
Thank you for your friendly and supportive comments about this, Chris! Glad you like it! #7777440Maria Warren August 17, 2009
congrats on your finalist!!!!!!!:) #7857481Alex T. Mizuno August 17, 2009
Congratulations Mary! Glad to see this again!! #7857560Karen Engelbreth August 17, 2009
Congratulations.... #7857906Jim Kinnunen August 17, 2009
Absolutely a wonderful image, Mary...Congratulations!!! #7858521Amy M. Wilson August 17, 2009
Congratulations on a FABULOUS Finalist, Mary! #7858562Carla Metzler August 17, 2009
Congratulations on your beautiful finalist, Mary! :-)Jane Hirst August 17, 2009
Super capture.........they posed for you!! Congratulations and good luck. #7858817Ann Coates August 17, 2009
Congratulations Mary on this outstanding finalist. Best of luck in the next round. #7859407Evy Johansen August 17, 2009
Huge congratulations on your beautiful and well deserving finalist, Mary! #7860120Teresa Burnett August 17, 2009
Huge congratulations on this marvelous Finalist, Mary!! Best of luck in the next round!! #7860351Mary K. Robison August 17, 2009
Thank you, Maria, Alex, Karen, Jim, Amy, Carla, Jane, Ann, Evy, and Teresa, for your kind words and Congrats.Barbara Waldoch August 18, 2009
Congratulations on this gorgeous Finalist, Mary! #7860841Stefania Barbier August 18, 2009
huge congratulations on your SPECTACULAR finalist!!! #7860845Shawn Jennings August 18, 2009
Great timing on this, Mary! Congratulations on your finalist! #7862255Kirsten Kiki Kjaer August 18, 2009
How could it not be a winner? Huge congrats, Mary. I hope to see it again very soon. #7863275Nadya Johnson August 18, 2009
Congratulations on your outstanding finalist, Mary! #7863581Agnes Fegan August 18, 2009
Congratulations Mary! #7864054Colleen Farrell August 18, 2009
Woohoo!! WTG, Mary--I'm so glad the judges picked this one. Big congrats on a most well-deserved finalist! #7864206Renee Doyle August 18, 2009
So sweet!!! Congratulations Mary on this beautiful finalist!! #7864461Mary K. Robison August 18, 2009
Barbara, Stefania, Shawn, Janice, Kiki, Nadya, Don, Agnes, Colleen, and Renee ~ many thanks to you all for your supportive comments and Congrats.Raymond Pauly August 18, 2009
Fantastic pose and capture, Mary! Congratulations to you! #7865116Max Aureli August 19, 2009
Congratulations on this fantastic shot Finalist, Mary!!!! #7865853Yulianto Soeroso August 19, 2009
congratulation yeah #7865932Tammy Scott August 19, 2009
Congratulations on the awesome and adroable finalist! #7866175Jeff Robinson August 19, 2009
Congrats Mary on your Wonderful Finalist! Jeff #7866717Mary K. Robison August 19, 2009
Thanks very much, Ray, Max, Yulianto, Tammy, and Jeff, for your kind words and Congrats. I do appreciate them! #7867181Julianne Bradford August 19, 2009
Wonderful pose and well deserved finalist award Mary! Congrats! #7867506Cindy Bendush August 19, 2009
Such a cute capture of a proud mama and babies! Congratulations Mary! #7870504Mary K. Robison August 19, 2009
I appreciate your kind words and Congrats, Julianne and Cindy. Thanks! #7870597Tommy E. Burgess August 20, 2009
Huge congratulations on your beautiful and well deserved finalist Mary!! I'm so far behind but am glad I took a minute to stop by your sight. I really enjoyed this when you first entered it and am happy you got well deserved recognition for this wonderful moment you captured here. Excellent!!! #7873817Mary K. Robison August 20, 2009
Many thanks for the Congrats and for all your friendly and supportive words, Tommy! I'm glad you enjoyed the duck family so much!anonymous August 21, 2009
Huge congratulations Mary on your beautiful finalist! B- #7874927Mary K. Robison August 21, 2009
Thanks, Barb! #7876623Phyllis H. Burchett August 23, 2009
This is gorgeous, great capture and composition. Lovely moment! #7880077Mary K. Robison August 23, 2009
Glad you like it, Phyllis!Sherran Andersen September 04, 2009
Belated congrats Mary... sorry I have been scarce this summer on BP hope to catch up soon. Wonderful wildlife capture. Sherran #7916468Mary K. Robison September 05, 2009
Thanks for the Congrats, Sherran ~ I'll take 'em whenever I can get 'em!Ujjwal Mukherjee September 05, 2009
Oh!,missed it,Mary!!Mary K. Robison September 05, 2009
Thanks so much, Ujjwal!! Glad you like it! #7918967Marvin H. Gohlke Jr. September 08, 2009
You nailed this shot, I love it!! And I loved going through your gallery! #7925015Mary K. Robison September 08, 2009
Thanks for checking this out and commenting on it, Marvin!Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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