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After the storm
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After the storm

by Jerry Marella

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 16, 201777 views2 comments
High winds and very choppy surf on the Gulf of Mexico washed up several dozen crab traps along with dead fish and this immature Night Heron. The dead bird was a strange contrast to the calm and sunny day that followed.

Sony NEX 6, 55-210 @ 55, ISO 200, 1/800 @ f13. Camera was laying flat on the beach to get as low a perspective as possible.

Thoughts, comments, and critiques are appreciated.  I'm not sure about the amount of blue sky included to balance the heavy bottom.

Comments

2 comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 17, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Your low angle view does a great job of emphasizing the dead bird on what looks to be a beautiful day (for all except the bird).  I think the amount of sky balances well against the heaviness of the bird as it emphasizes the juxtaposition of death on a beautiful day.  Cropping sky puts more and more emphasis on the dead bird, so it seems like a question of what story do you want to tell.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Paula LeVay on February 19, 2017 at 3:10 PM
While death is not an easy thing to photograph, I think that you have shown that the subject is worthy of the effort.  I especially like the way you have presented the Heron, in a pose that displays its still beautiful feathers.  I only thing that I could suggest is showing more of the Heron's face, maybe from a slightly higher angle, looking down.  
Registered on July 29, 2016, 66 Posts, 270 Comments