Black-crowned Night-Hero

Gallery: AvianPosted May 1, 201078 views14 comments

Canon 7D, 500mm +1.4x, monopod.

1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 320. EC -1 2/3 stops.

Crop to vertical from horizontal = 44% (8 of 18MP)

Found this spotlit Black-crowned Night Heron this morning at Page Springs Fish Hatchery. I like the spotlighting effect and that great red eye.

Comments and critiques appreciated. Please view larger version if possible.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on May 1, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Like how the heron seems to be coming out of the shadows. Plus that red eye really stands out!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 1, 2010 at 11:18 PM

Beautiful, Brian. I really like the spotlit effect.

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on May 2, 2010 at 4:43 AM

Great effect and great eye.

Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 2, 2010 at 7:35 AM

Love that red eye Brian - nice one

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 2, 2010 at 8:02 AM

I agree Brian, the spot lighting on this fellow is really nice. Wonderful bird, wonderful image, congrats!

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on May 2, 2010 at 9:12 AM

The spotlight is killer. He is in the shadows were you would expect to find him but with ideal lighting.

great job!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 2, 2010 at 4:01 PM

Fun photo. Love him peeking out-and the one legged stance.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on May 2, 2010 at 8:06 PM

Beautiful "out of the shadows" shot, Brian. I too like that eye! I might be tempted to try to reduce exposure on the leg a bit to try to drag out more detail there. That's a nit though.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 3, 2010 at 12:36 AM

Hmmm, I was looking for a second leg. Ok, beautiful photo Brian. The background is over all quite dark, but the larger you go with this photo the better it looks, moody and attractive.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 3, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Brian, this is very cool lighting...especially on his breed for my taste. For some reason, these guys always remind me of characters fomr those 1920's ganster movies...the ones wearing trenchcoats in the back-alleys...speaking in a heavy New York/Italian accent saying things like, "hey you...ya, you, come over here".
I know, I have a bit of a vivid imagination

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 3, 2010 at 11:16 AM

I agree, the spotlighting works very well..
And that red eye looks fab of course. I make a point of turning my cam vertically for these shots, but easier said than done

Great image

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 3, 2010 at 3:59 PM

Brian,
great spotlight effect. The red eye really stands out.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on May 3, 2010 at 6:30 PM

The light really makes this image but you've exposed it well to bring out the detail in those white areas. Really like this. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 3, 2010 at 6:59 PM

Really interesting lighting here Brian, I'd try to tone down the leg as it looks a little bright.

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