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Feathers in Frost
Photographer: Matt Poole
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1/2000 • f/5.6 • ISO 1000 • Nikon Z9 • 400mm • NIkon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
In late 2024, an intense ice storm hit my hometown located in southern Oregon. Frost attached itself to every car, road, building, and tree, turning the small, quiet town into a seemingly winter wonderland. That photographic urge soon built up, and I found myself grabbing my camera and heading to a local waterfowl hotspot.
For context, I have never really been that into ducks and waterfowl. Even while living in a migratory hotspot, I still found myself spending my time looking for other wildlife - mostly owls.
I immediately noticed the empty parking lot as I pulled in, likely thanks to the well-below-freezing temps. The lake before me was frozen over, with a portion of open water creeping out from a nearby river. The conditions appeared to congregate the local wildlife into a small area. Waterfowl scattered as I made my way down the bank of large boulders. For the next hour, I found myself hunched over, with my lens just above the water, photographing anything willing to wade by. A Hooded Merganser was the one who gave me the best looks. The merganser moved smoothly, back and forth, through the fog, water, and frosty background. After 10 years of photography, I had just gotten the first duck photo I was pleased with. I couldn't help but chuckle at the reminder that the environment often dictates a photo more than the actual subject.
