Mallard in flight & doing a "flash dance"

Testing out the AI Servo Mode on the new Canon 1D4 with the 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Lighting was nice, the golden hour, before sunset. BIF shot is handheld, tight crop to check and show detail and quality of AI Servo tracking. #2 is another mallard flapping off the water after dunking himself. The head, neck, chest is coated with water, droplets are frozen in midair just above the water surface. I'll have to go back again with the tripod and Wimberley head and do some tests with same idea in mind; AI Servo Mode tracking BIF.

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These buggers continue to escape me in flight. So well done there, Brian!

Thanks Levina. I'm going to go back again. May go this evening with the tripod and Wimberley Head. I'll test it out and see what all of the excitement is about concerning this well respected gimbal head. I definitely agree that getting some good BIF pictures is very challenging, especially handheld. I tried tracking several mallards by hand but only managed to fire off a few good shots. The ducks circle the pond, sometimes several times, before they decide on a spot that they like. I'm trying to get them when the lighting is good and also trying to get them as they come in for a landing! At the very least,I'm having fun!

I was supposed to be in AMS and hoped to have gone to Keukenhof to photograph the tulips but the volcanic ash has made a mess of many Transatlantic flights. I've got one more chance to go to see the tulips before the gardens close on 16 May.

Too bad all flights were canceled, but the ban has been lifted, at least partially, and a few planes left from Schiphol tonight. One to New York in fact. So you might make it after all. And if not... well, it's just a bunch of tulips...