BC Night Heron

Gallery: AvianPosted May 31, 2012149 views10 comments

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert, AZ
Date: December 31, 2011, 8:34 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/500th @ f/8, -1/3rd ev
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 69% of frame, no cloning, no noise reduction

One of the pleasures of digital photography for me is the freedom to try shots I might have passed over in the days of film. I am always looking for new ways to show familiar species I’ve photographed hundreds of times before and I try to avoid formula photography that leads to cookie-cutter images.

I realize that not everyone here will care for this image, finding the setting much too busy for their tastes. That’s fine: I’m shooting for my own tastes after all and I don’t expect everyone else to like every shot I take.

I love the complexity of this setting, and the understated harmonious colors. I like how the heron blends in and yet how the face is in the clear and serves as the focal point of the image.

Larger version provided for critical viewing of image quality and detail. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on May 31, 2012 at 2:29 PM

I love images that show the subject in it's environment! I don't see the bg as busy, I see it as realistic. I like the comp and colors of this image and the way the colors in the heron match the environment. Nicely done!

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 31, 2012 at 2:55 PM

Richard that's the sort of place where they live and feed ,i like it just the way it is.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on May 31, 2012 at 3:52 PM

Very nice shot of the heron in its natural habitat. I agree with your comments regarding the shot. I also appreciate your comment that you are shooting for your own taste. For most of us photography is an enjoyable hobby we persue for our own pleasure and the most important critic is ourselves.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 31, 2012 at 6:00 PM

I read your evaluation of this one Rich and I agree. The clear view of the birds sharp face and yellowish eye draws ones attention right away. I see the tightly nit branches as the tapestry very often seen in nature, especially with animals such as these. This works.
It's all in your subjective approach or "mindset".

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 31, 2012 at 6:24 PM

Hi Richard. I agree with your own assessment on this photo, the complexity is very interesting and natural. The placement of the heron in accordance with the rule of thirds brings back some order and control to the chaos. The large perch main branch also acts as a strong compositional element to ground the composition. Wonderful light and color too!

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on May 31, 2012 at 11:36 PM

I like shots like this that show the birds natural environment even if it is a messy and chaotic environment. Even though there is a lot going on in this scene my attention went right to the head and the orange eye and then I found myself wondering how the bird could even navigate through all those branches.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on June 1, 2012 at 12:58 AM

I think your composition is part of what makes this work and makes the focal point immediately obvious. I also like the curves of the branches, which almost seems harmonious.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on June 1, 2012 at 6:25 AM

Hello Richard, a fine image that works for me: the bird is shown in it's usual secretive pose, and you managed the exposure well: the risk is blown highlight in the branches in the FG, which you avoided by underexposing ! Well done, cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 1, 2012 at 6:49 PM

Nothing wrong with this kind of habitat shot imo! I like the lines and colors and your juvenile stands out well enough to draw in my eye. This is just where I would expect to find this bird! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on June 2, 2012 at 3:34 PM

I think this is great Richard. I'd much rather have a shot like this with the natural habitat of the bird, than a simpler, "cleaner" view. Thanks to you showing me around this place, I also know this shot does a very nice job of depicting what the area is like. Nicely done.

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