Great Blue Heron & RP

Gallery: AvianPosted April 9, 2018226 views7 comments

This is another from our trip to the Monterey Peninsula of California. When we were on the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat trip, they mentioned the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, so we went there a couple of days later and walked part of their trail system. This heron was no more than 8 feet past one of the benches along the trail and pretty much ignored us.

Processing was "interesting" for this one as it was rather late in the morning and there was quite a bit of contrast in the background. The log in the lower left corner was particularly bright and required quite a bit of adjustment. Normally I wouldn't have bothered with a GBH image with this crowded a background, but I really loved the pose with the extended leg and intense look.

7Dii, Sigma 150-600 C @ 403 mm, hand held, f/8, 1/2000, iso 800, aperture priority, pattern metering, -2/3 EV. Processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 15.5 MP. Taken March 11th at 11:38 am.

Your comments and critiques are always appreciated.

Thanks for taking a look,

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 9, 2018 at 9:59 PM

It's a very interesting pose but as you said tough lighting. I think I would go a bit darker overall here. devil

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

Comment posted by Bill Kellermeyer on April 10, 2018 at 11:43 AM

To me unusual setting for Great Blue. I agree that it would look better with less highlight. Very nice Love the intensity of the image.

Registered on March 19, 2013, 52 Posts, 161 Comments

Comment posted by Ry Birge on April 10, 2018 at 12:11 PM

Great capture Dennis! Excavation point with the lighting you have you might try a bit more contrast. Love the composition. Keep up the good work. Ry

Registered on September 23, 2017, 118 Posts, 278 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 10, 2018 at 1:39 PM

Really interesting behavioral capture Dennis. I would tone down the light on the bird here as well. devil

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 10, 2018 at 7:43 PM

Here's a repost with the lights dimmed and some more contrast in the heron.

You can click on the image for a larger version.

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on April 11, 2018 at 2:38 PM

Great pose by the Heron Dennis. When I first looked at this I thought the same as the others regarding darkening of the image. Your repost is a major improvement. Nice job! I like the stretching out pose too as it adds a lot of interest. He looks like he was getting ready to grab something?

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 11, 2018 at 4:09 PM

That's a pretty busy BG but an interesting stalking posture with the outstretched leg. I agree with other comments, and the repost is much better.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments