Bittern & Repost

Hi One from today having spent nearly six hours in the hides and in my hidden hides in the reed beds needless to say I have a few hundred bittern images so here is a quick one from the first card I have started downloading I do have some frame fillers taken with my 300f2.8 nikkor & d200.

Phillip.

D2x sigma 800 1/200@f10 iso200 -.3ev

PP in nc442 & CS2

Hello
It is a very nice picture of bittern in a lovely light. Personnaly I would clone the reed on the left.
Frederic

Nice picture of a Bittern unfortunately I find the horizontal nature of the ripples distracting.

A few hundred Phillip

Agree the bg competes for attention, but a fine clean view of this chap, and i would happily sit in a hide for six hours for something similar of this particular bird

Alan

That's a lovely shot. Nits covered, but they don't take away from what is a fine image.



Mark

nice image. the only thing i can see apart from the mentioned is that the eye is right in line with a heavy out of focus reflection oof a reed, for me this gives it the bizarre effect that the eye is out of focus, even though it isn't.

hope this is useful.

mark

Lovely image Phillip. Nice detail and great light. One of Britain's rarest breeding birds and certainly one of the most elusive.

Never shot one myself. Maybe this winter they come to my feeding place. This one is just beautiful. Nice light and pose of the bird.

Edwin Kats

Nice clear image Phillip

Agree with most of the comments above though for me at least they are minor apart from the reed left frame.

I just bet those 300mm images push that BG right out the picture - can't wait to see one

I'd be smitte(r)n with that bittern :)

Hear you go Andy d200 300 f2.8 @f4.5 fullframe handheld.

Phillip.

Not keen on the first post, but this 'repost' is stunning!!!

Hello Phil
I definately prefer the repost, its a cracker!
How many Bitterns are there at the Mere this year?
Best wishes
Phil

Hi Phil we have 3 at this time and hoping to get some more, the long eared owls are back to plus a Cetti's Warbler to also 2 Ring-necked Parakeets ? down at Lytham Crematorium.

Phillip.

For me the lighting and pose in the first shot is just wonderful and compliments the subject perfectly - I don't mind a bit of stray vegetation it is habitat and the rear reflected reed stems confirm the habitat setting.

To be honest I find the second image is just a bit too clinical and sterile - yes it is a cleaner record shot of a bittern, but it totally lacks the atmosphere of the first image.

Of the two I definately prefer the original posting, compositional "warts" and all

Mike

Couple of crackers Philip - patience as a virtue is well rewarded when you get nice "open" Bittern pics such as this.



Mark

Second post a cracker

Hi Phillip,

Love the second shot a real cracker

Paul

Great shots phil would love to do these one day, love the light and setting.



Danny

First post, second post...I'd be pleased as punch with either.
Excellent work.
Simon

Worth the wait Phillip - repost is nice

I hate to say this though - seeing them both Phillip - I prefer the first one

I like the lighting more in the repost though

Having said that I'd be chuffed with either

Hi Phillip

Both 'cracking' images!

David

A couple of fine images.