It's cold in Holland and all of the freshwater is frozen over. Difficult times for a lot of birds who mainly depend on fresh water for food. A week ago, I came across this puffy Great Blue Heron which was sitting near the road. Fortunately the heron wasn't weakened but really seemed to have a rough time.
Nikon D80 @ 420 mm, iso 200, F 8, 1/800 sec on a beanbag from a car window.
Posted by Mike Smith on January 12, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Purists would probably want more virtual leg room, but it is sufficiently big in the frame to work for me as is.
FYI, the Great Blue Heron is the American 'grey' heron, the common European heron is the Grey Heron, they are distinctly different genetic species although remarkably similar to look at. I think the twitching community would be going apoplectic if it were an American Great Blue that had overflown Britain ........
Mike
Posted by John Robinson on January 12, 2009 at 10:55 AM
He looks like I feel !
Nice sombre portrait.
JR
Posted by Tom Smit on January 12, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Hi Sandra,
Great shot. Indeed it is a very difficult time for the herons. I saw several of the dead unfortunately.
But a lot of them were still alive so there is hope.
Posted by David Sewell on January 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I think that hunched pose captures conditions in recent days, as does the title. Very nice shot.
David
Posted by John Varley on January 12, 2009 at 12:17 PM
I like the moody lighting Sandra, it makes quite a powerful image.
John
Posted by Barry Southon on January 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Sandra
A very nice shot as David said captures the conditions.
Hi Sandra,
Fingers crossed for the bird's in these testing conditions
A very fine shot and shows the bird's intense concentration off very well.
Posted by Matt Cole on January 12, 2009 at 3:28 PM
very nice Sandra, I like the lighting and the strong eye contact. It has now warmed up a bit here in the UK which should make things a bit easier for the birds.
Nice, I would normally like more room for the virtual legs but the comp seems to work well here...
Posted by Jeroen Stel on January 13, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Lovely pose and use of DOF Sandra!
Well done!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by Magnus Hird on January 14, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Like the light catching the side of the head and beak, great eye. Watched a local grey heron catch a 2 foot eel a week or so back - it had to fly off to a field to work on it!
Discussion
14 repliesNikon D80 @ 420 mm, iso 200, F 8, 1/800 sec on a beanbag from a car window.
FYI, the Great Blue Heron is the American 'grey' heron, the common European heron is the Grey Heron, they are distinctly different genetic species although remarkably similar to look at. I think the twitching community would be going apoplectic if it were an American Great Blue that had overflown Britain ........
Mike
Nice sombre portrait.
JR
Great shot. Indeed it is a very difficult time for the herons. I saw several of the dead unfortunately.
But a lot of them were still alive so there is hope.
David
John
A very nice shot as David said captures the conditions.
Barry
Eastbourne
Fingers crossed for the bird's in these testing conditions
A very fine shot and shows the bird's intense concentration off very well.
Matt
A real stunner,excellent,sorry can't find any faults.
Cheers Keith.
Brett
Well done!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel