Magic Moment

Gallery: AvianPosted January 23, 2011154 views15 comments

Yesterday I waited until the sun was setting before I ventured to my local lake. I decided there was not going to a successful shot today so I headed home. Then I saw this Great Egret standing on a spit of land between Clear Creek and the Nassau Bay Lake. I parked as close as I dared to, positioned the bean bag over the door and started shooting. As I was looking through the lens, I noticed the grasses on the far side of the creek changing from a dull patina to a glowing golden-orange, and the sun was no longer painting harsh stripes on the egret. I declared to myself that the "Magic Moment" had arrived. Your comments are welcomed.

PS - I may not have allowed enough room for those virtual feet again

7D, 500 mm, F/4, 1/800, +.33, ISO 400
Bean Bag from car
PP PS curves, Nik noise reduction, sharpening
Crop to portrait

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 23, 2011 at 6:53 PM

The colors and light are just beautiful, and it seems to me there is enough room for the feet.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 23, 2011 at 7:48 PM

Indeed, a magical moment! Feet are ok here, too! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 23, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Beautiful light. Background really sets this off nicely. Room on the bottom looks fine to me. Very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 23, 2011 at 10:16 PM

It does look like the golden hour. Really love that background. And that wide legged stance. Good catch.

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 23, 2011 at 10:18 PM

Great image ,beautiful golds and greens really help to set off the Egret!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 23, 2011 at 10:35 PM

Very nice colors; good pose and composition. The room at the bottom is ok although you'd not want to be any closer there.

At ISO 400 I'm surprised you needed any noise reduction and I fear it has reduced feather texture as well. I limit NR to backgrounds on the rare occasions I find it necessary as I prefer to retain detail in the subject even if it means some noise will show as well in shadow areas.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 24, 2011 at 1:51 AM

A sweet portrait in awesome light Dottie

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 24, 2011 at 2:32 AM

Dottie - GREAT light and very nice detail in the Egret ! The blue and gold in the BG is exquisite.
Nothing you could have done about the feet - but the rest of the image more than makes up for that.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on January 24, 2011 at 2:41 AM

A lovely image Dottie.Nicely exposed to show the detail in the bird. The light has really made a tremendous difference to this image, the background colours are beautiful. Graham

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 24, 2011 at 3:53 AM

Oh, yes, definitely THE magic moment! Nice feet, too.

What a gorgeous shot! Love the "hunkered" pose, too.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on January 24, 2011 at 11:05 AM

Excellent expo and detail. Killer BG

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on January 24, 2011 at 12:19 PM

Wow, wonderful lighting. Gorgeous image Dottie, thanks for sharing.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 24, 2011 at 1:16 PM

Wonderful colors to this and good job handling such a difficult contrast type shot, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 25, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Nice detail and beautiful BG Dottie. I think you have plenty of room on the bottom as the feet look as though they are covered in the grass.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 25, 2011 at 10:37 PM

Hi dottie

Yes!! you did capture that magic moment

Marvelous light and color.

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments