Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

The techs are;

Body: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon 600mm f/4DED-IF AF-S II Nikkor & TC 17E II

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
Exposure Comp: -1.0 EV
Active D-Ligthing: Low
AF Mode: AF-C
Sensitivity: ISO 400
White Balance: Cloudy
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f11
Focal Length: 1000mm

Tripod: Gitzo G1548 & Levelling Base
Head: Wimberley Gimbal V2

Processed with Lightroom and Photoshop (80% of Full Frame).

Comments & Critique welcome! Thanks for looking!

Hi Everyone,

I was enjoying a nice sunny afternoon yesterday with some Oystercatchers when this lovely Grey Heron put in an appearance. It was also my first outing with the D300 and I was struggling a bit with the auto-focus (it is so different to the D2Xs), I wished now I had it set a 9-points and not 21-points! I know I’m going to get a told you so!

Happy shooting,

Hi Paul nice capture . On my Monitor the picture looks to have a colour cast could be blue.
John

Hi Paul,
Some thoughts for you from what I've learnt from the D3, so they may not transfer to the D300. I use 51 point focus on flight shots, there is some good talk about with regards to the 3D tracking option. I find image processing is quite different to that of D2X files, which I'm learning slowly and surely, my belief is that to reduce noise Nikon has a curve bias to the right and rightly so, but in post processing some shifting back needs to be done. I have my picture settings at neutral with as much reduced contrast as possible this gives the greatest dynamic range achievable and so lots of info to play with later.
I guess you got the D300 as the D3x is around the corner, some saying a June announcement, we'll see maybe.

Tim

Nice shot of the heron but indeed a blueish cast on my monitor too. It is a nightmare getting used to a new camera. I shall watch with interest.

Hi Paul,

Just incredible. It kind of has a moody quality to it. The tranquility of flight. A very beautiful shot.



Payat

Hi Paul

A little contrasty but a nice all round image!

David

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your comments. Appreciated as always.

You've certainly got the shot Paul, but for me it needs re-processing a little. It's in there somewhere!
Eric

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the feedback appreciated as always!