YCNH w/Fiddler Crab

Gallery: AvianPosted May 27, 2010136 views13 comments

Was happy to find 3 Yellow Crowned Night Heron's along Dune Rd. this evening, but unfortunately the lighting was less than stellar. This is the first time they have been seen "this far east" on Long Island, and are likely on migration passing through.

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC rested on pillow from car
f/6.7
1/320s
ISO 1000
+.33 EC

Cropped to about 75%, sharpened bird, minor NR on BG, none on bird.

- Luke

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 27, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Cool capture Luke, especially under the conditions you encountered. I like the strategic crop you chose to ensure the subject and habitat was positioned well.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on May 27, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Hi Luke,
Good action with the claw in the Heron's bill. Looks like you had some moderate backlighting which you seem to have handled adequately. There is a good bit of grass stickups that's a little distracting but not a show stopper. I think the halos under the bill and along the front edge of the neck could have been handled better in the processing. However they don't show as much in the larger image.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on May 27, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Cool Luke! Very nice view of bird and it's meal. Grass isn't an issue at all for me, I rather like the habitat here.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 28, 2010 at 2:05 AM

Cool pose and prey. I agree with Ronnie's points. You did quite well with the blah lighting situation.

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 28, 2010 at 8:13 AM

Flat light and a bright bg are a tough combination and you handled it well. The crab claw makes the image for me. There is a bit of a halo under the neck, but that's a minor downsizing issue that's easily fixed.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 28, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Good work in this tough light. I normally don't care for "head and shoulders" crops but it works well in this case to put the focus on the crab.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 28, 2010 at 1:38 PM

Nice close-up, Luke. I like the implied action from the prey.

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

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on May 28, 2010 at 6:34 PM

Nice find and good job in tough lighting conditions. The eye appears a little softer then the rest of the frame maybe a little selective sharping in that area. Other wise really nice moment here.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 28, 2010 at 7:54 PM

Luke:
Glad you were able to see them as they were passing through. Nice capture under tough conditions.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 28, 2010 at 8:49 PM

That's what these guys do and you did a great job capturing it.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on May 28, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Outstanding! Looks like you made it happen despite the lighting!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 28, 2010 at 9:19 PM

Luke,

I'm late to the party so the issues I would have mentioned have already been addressed. I did want to tell you that I enjoy the setting, the curve of the heron's neck and seeing the crab claw in the bill.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 29, 2010 at 1:33 AM

Nice capture Luke

cheers
Rob

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