Touch Down

Gallery: AvianPosted May 4, 20162,329 views8 comments

Since Mark and Dennis have been posting their amazing images shot from the dock at the Indigo Inn on Drayton Island in the St Johns River from the Florida Spring Tour, I thought I'd better post one of mine. This juvenile Tri-Colored Heron was still refining the finer points of it's landing techniques which, of course, made for a great photo opportunity. Back lighting provided by the morning sun, hand held, 90% of full frame.

Please see Larger Version - - Largest Version - HERE

File name   RAMY_2308_CF72
Camera Model   Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Shooting Date/Time   3/6/2016 10:07:10 AM
Author   Michael Ramy
Copyright Notice   CopyRight Rock Art, Ltd All Rights Reserved
Shooting Mode   Shutter-Priority AE
Tv(Shutter Speed)   1/1600
Av(Aperture Value)   5.6
Metering Mode   Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation   +2/3
ISO Speed   250
Lens   EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Focal Length   400.0mm

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on May 4, 2016 at 8:59 PM

Very cool shot, Mike! I never noticed a bird using the "dragging toe nail" brakes before.
I like backlighting, and in this case it worked well on the "tracks" as well as the feathers.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 4, 2016 at 10:48 PM

I like the wingspread and the view of this heron coming toward the viewer Mike. I also like the toes dragging across the water. Personally I might be tempted to crop a tiny bit from the top and left, placing the heron a bit higher in the frame and more to the left.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 4, 2016 at 11:52 PM

Truly wonderful capture, Mike. I'm working from my uncalibrated laptop, but I see a blue cast throughout the shot. Indigo Inn, indeed?

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by David Rowe on May 5, 2016 at 5:11 AM

Well caught, Mike! I'm amazed you did so well at 250 ISO, the timing is hard to beat. Excellent composition and technics.
David

Registered on December 20, 2013, 133 Posts, 286 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on May 5, 2016 at 10:14 AM

Very cool wide open wingspread and the toes skimming the water makes this shot pretty special. I also may have moved the heron to the left just a touch to de-center it. Nicely seen and captured Mike! cool

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 5, 2016 at 12:45 PM

The spread wings and dragging feet are great, Mike. I do like the back lighting on the wings. I could wish for a little head turn, but with this action, it's not going to happen. Nice work.

devil

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

Comment posted by Raoul Breaux Jr on May 5, 2016 at 11:26 PM

Mike,

I was out photographing today and saw Cattle Egrets doing the same thing. When they would go after a stick in the water, they would drop their legs and use their feet as brakes by dragging them. It happened several times during my session. I immediately thought of your bird when I saw that behavior.

Registered on April 27, 2016, 20 Posts, 142 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 9, 2016 at 6:43 PM

I like the toe dragging here Mike, kind of tough light but you handled it well. The head doesn't look quite as sharp as the wings to me, stopping down a bit might have helped there devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments