Snowy Egret at dawn

Gallery: AvianPosted November 1, 2009236 views23 comments

Egretta thula

I have wanted to post this Snowy Egret for some time, and now seems as good a time as any.

Taken in FL on a day when the waves were very choppy and just after the sun had started to rise. I bumped up the ISO to 500 and hoped for the best.

D200, HH, laying in the wet sand, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 500, 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, 74% of original image, slight rotation adjustment, and a touch of NR on the waves in the background.

I enjoy the dreamy feel this image has to it, the light and the two feathers floating on the surface of the water from the Snowy preening just before this photo was taken.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques, and that you take the time to give them. Thank you for looking.

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Drew Fulton on November 1, 2009 at 8:09 PM

I really like it Lia. Great scene, well executed. The crashing wave in the background makes it different than most typical Snowy images. I must admit, I had to search for the feathers so they don't do anything for me. Beautiful light though.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 43 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 1, 2009 at 8:13 PM

Lia, great light and angle as usual. I too like the crashing wave BG. I think it is time for a book on your seashore and lagoon experiences and images while you were in FL. I would buy it.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on November 1, 2009 at 8:25 PM

Lia I like the dreamy mood too. I find the two circles just above the bird in the BG slightly distracting.

Peter

I agree that you should publish your "Mornings in Florida Collection"

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 1, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Great lighting that shows off the black/yellow legs of this snowy and the crashing waves adds a lot.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 1, 2009 at 9:12 PM

The lighting and colors in this image are very special, Lia. I really like the fluffy look of the feathers and the reflection on the legs of the bird. The way the image progresses from the in focus foreground to the blurry background on a plane and ending in wispy clouds is very attractive. I think it is an excellent image as posted.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Donato on November 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM

Very nice light and bokeh, beautiful composition Lia.

Registered on January 27, 2009, 29 Posts, 247 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM

Lots of things grab me here Lia. Top of the list is your great exposure and nice light but I love the crashing surf background too. The two feathers and the bubble in front of the egret are great and your traditional low perspective tops it all off. Excellent.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 1, 2009 at 9:29 PM

Another really good image. Great exposure on the bird, the bubble on the water and the wave are nice too. I'd be tempted to blur the four circular spots (2 to the left, 2 to the right of the bird) on the edges of the wave--they are a little distracting for me.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 1, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Beautiful light and colors in this. Didn't notice the feathers until you mentioned it. Your exposure is excellent and the wave in the bg is wonderful. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 1, 2009 at 9:36 PM

Oh my: what a lovely moody image! Almost primeval.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 1, 2009 at 10:24 PM

Beautiful, Lia. The waves and the bg clouds really add to this image. A very lovely composition. Nice new avatar too!

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on November 1, 2009 at 10:48 PM

Excellent image, Lia. Lovely early morning light.

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 2, 2009 at 2:14 AM

Beautiful light Lia and I like the detail evident in the larger version.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 2, 2009 at 8:13 AM

Gorgeous shot Lia, lovely lighting and I like the waves crashing in the bg.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on November 2, 2009 at 8:15 AM

Lovely feel to this shot Lia. Wish we got those here...

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on November 2, 2009 at 8:20 AM

Absolutely gorgeous Lia, your patience and ground/sand level view along with such incredible light (and camera settings) present this to the viewer as a very dreamy artistic work. Very well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on November 2, 2009 at 10:20 AM

This is extraordinary, Lia!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on November 2, 2009 at 2:29 PM

Lia,
I do love the moody feel that this image has, the lighting on the bird really creates the dreamy feel. Nice low angle too.

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 2, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Beautiful environmental image Lia. That's some incredible light.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on November 2, 2009 at 8:12 PM

This image has such a calming mood to it Lia. The breaking waves in the background are great. Excellent job on the exposure.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on November 3, 2009 at 1:59 PM

The warm light on the bird is great. I especially love the crashing wave in the background. There is something nice and peaceful about the image.