Flying Bittern

Gallery: AvianPosted January 16, 2011154 views18 comments

Canon 1D Mark 4 With EF 500mm f4
1/1600 sec, F7.1, ISO 400

Just cropped for composition, adjusted levels, added a little canvas and sharpened.

Thanks for looking.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on January 16, 2011 at 8:32 PM

Well that's one way to get them out in the open. I don't think I've ever seen one in flight - nice capture. Nice sharp eye and a pleasing 'super-stretched' position. I wonder if slightly darkening the BG might give the Bittern just a little more pop? Regardless, this is a fine image.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 16, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Wow! Rarely see them, yet alone flying...so nice capture! I wonder about decreasing the exposure on this a bit and adding a bit of sat to the bird? Love the flight posture! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 16, 2011 at 11:18 PM

Very cool, Michael. I don't think I've seen a flight shot of one of these. Good focus and the bg really appeals to me. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM

I love the flight pose you captured. Great shot.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 17, 2011 at 2:47 AM

Great capture, Michael ! Good advice about exposure have already been given.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 17, 2011 at 5:34 AM

This is different, a Bittern in flight and with its neck arched, toes up, and clear eye-I love it.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 17, 2011 at 9:52 AM

Great capture, Michael! A bittern in a such flight pose is really uncommon.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 17, 2011 at 10:10 AM

michael, this is super cool! I don't think I have EVER seen a BIF shot of this species! They are always hiding in the weeds. Very nice detail on this as well!

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

Comment posted by Simon Litten on January 17, 2011 at 1:35 PM

Fabulous shot

Simon

Registered on June 22, 2006, 24 Posts, 275 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 17, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Like everyone else said. Amazing to see one fly. I didn't know they did that, good catch

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 17, 2011 at 3:48 PM

Like everyone else said. Amazing to see one fly. I didn't know they did that, good catch! I might darken the BG a tad.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on January 17, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Bitteren in the snow....a first for me.

Nice flight shot.....seems a tad bright on my monitor.

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 17, 2011 at 7:23 PM

I think this is the first time I have ever seen a flight shot of a bittern. Great job Michael. The small post looked a bit bright to me, but the larger post looks great. Very nice detail. Congrats on a great and rare shot.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 18, 2011 at 12:16 AM

I've never seen one in flight. Just skulking around-hiding from me and my lens. I like the few water drops coming off the feet. Nicely captured.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 18, 2011 at 6:31 AM

Great pose Michael - love the arched neck. Nice and sharp too

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 18, 2011 at 6:51 AM

How neat to get this bittern in flight Micael! Love the pose, the bit of motion blur of the wings and the subtle tones of the background. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 18, 2011 at 11:47 AM

Excellent stop action and details, love the streamlined flight pose Michael.
Only suggestion would to bring down the overall lightness a bit?
Well done!

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 19, 2011 at 1:34 PM

Wow!, this is some capture

I don't think much of your canvas extension work though

Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments