Figure 1 – American black duck. Kennebunkport, Maine. (c) DE Wolf 2015.

The great British painter J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) was a greater believer and artistic practitioner of the power and magic of combining light and water. Indeed, during the history and development of his life’s work the combination of light and water slowly but irrevocably became the dominant force, as if in recognition that light gives life both figuratively and literally to the water.

This past Friday I was walking across the bridge at Dock Square in Kennebunkport, Maine when some American black docks – Anas rubripes caught my eye. they were in a bit of a frenzy as someone was throwing bread crumbs to them. There was a lot of quacking as ducks fought for the prized delight and new groups of ducks raced to join the feast. In the center of town, at least at this time of year, the black ducks appear to be dominant.

I was drawn to photograph these duck because I visually liked the scene. But it was not until I worked up the images that I realized completely what had so appealed to me. It was the reticulated pattern of swirling light and shadow on the water that resembled oil on water and created a complex but visually compelling background.

Background is of course a very key element of bird photography. A picture is often killed by the lack of a good background. But when you are lucky enough to have it, it can be truly magical.

Canon T2i with EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens at 200 mm, ISO 1600, Aperture Priority AE mode at 1/800th sec f/7.1 with no exposure compensation.