Writing silly blogs - Fun with Photoshop

Male mallard duck photographed Knox Mountain in Kelowna, February 7, 2026.

I had some fun putting this together.  I got quite a few good photos of the drake in spite of the low light.  However, the heavy cloud did make for even lighting with no visible shadows.  The image reminded me of someone speed skating, and I just took it from there.  The fact that the winter Olympics are currently in session also provided some impetus.

I don't often photograph mallard ducks as they are very common and rarely inspire me.  They fall into the same category as robins and house sparrows.  My main purpose for this series of photos was to take some bird photos, and there were only two species available - mallards and goldeneyes.  I wrote a blog on the female goldeneye I took yesterday (click here).  I did a blog a few weeks ago on common goldeneye ducks as well, where I wrote up some information on them (click here).

I have to admit to enjoying being silly on my blogs from time to time.  Occasionally, it is about the photo and other times it's about the text, sometimes it's about both.  Today, it was about having fun with just the image.

I write blogs to display my photos, but also to educate others and to learn something myself.  I enjoy writing, but I love taking photos more.  When I am in the right mood, I will take a thought and stretch it into something goofy.  This is a good example of when I was silly with both the image and the text.  There is another one here.  Fun.

It also keeps me out of trouble.  Most of the time.  Well, for today, anyway.  

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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