Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Ready for action
‹ PreviousAvian GalleryNext ›

Ready for action

by Bob McQuade

Gallery: AvianPosted February 16, 2014112 views9 comments
D300 200-400mm with 1.7 TC @ 680mm F9.5 1/10 ISO 280

One of the few times I have ever been able to get fairly close to a green heron. Fortunately, he had something in his sights and was frozen in this position so I was able to get away with the slow shutter speed.

Did have to clone out some of the water surface bubble highlights in the BG as they were very distracting. Wasn't sure about the post reflection in the top left as a distraction or not, , but thought it kind of balanced out the foreground post in the composition.

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on February 16, 2014 at 8:31 AM
Hello Bob

Very well done, I like the capture. The top left post is somewhat of a distraction ,

Bill
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on February 16, 2014 at 8:44 AM
Nice image.
Agree with Bill on the top left part, and I think a little more room on the left would improve it.
:toast:
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on February 16, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Fine pose and excellent detail, Bob. Since you have done some cloning, I would consider taking out the reflection top left, as it would be very easy to clone.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 16, 2014 at 1:08 PM
Nice pose; very nice detail. I agree about the space on left and the distraction of the other post.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on February 16, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Nice pose. I agree with the others in that I think the out-of-focus material in the upper left hand corner is a distraction. And, I think more room on the left would help. Great action. Well done.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 16, 2014 at 6:20 PM
Nice tilted position from the heron. This would make a nice landscape shot with some added to the left. Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 17, 2014 at 5:56 PM
Wonderful tension in this shot, Bob. Excellent techs. I'm not troubled by the reflected post – as you say, it frames the bird. But the shot feels really cramped, especially along the left side. I'd suggest a landscape comp, if you have the pixels.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Cloran on February 17, 2014 at 6:13 PM
The pose nicely captures the sense of hunting. I would eliminate the reflected post (upper left) the tone is dark enough to pull the eye. Everything else works well together. I'm inclined to agree with the others on having extra room on the left if you have it in the original capture.
Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 21, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Great pose and detail Bob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments