1 I like to shoot spring waterfowl with the sun at my back. That is necessary for the magnificent iridescent plumage on the males to light up.

2 I also like to find a spot with a background other than just sky visible in the photos. That gives the images a sense of place.

3 Normally I don't shoot courtship flights from a blind because it restricts my ability to pan my camera and lens as ducks fly past.

4 A tripod head called a gimbal head works best for action photography. I use one made by Wimberley.

Bill Marchel