Snazzy!

[Arthur Morris]

This displaying Snowy Egret image was created with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=20), the Mongoose M3.6 head (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=274), the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/60 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode. Color Temperature: AWB.

Fill flash with Better Beamer at -3 stops in ETTL. Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT with the Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack for faster re-charging times. Mongoose Integrated Flash Arm with the Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3.

Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the base of the bill in front of the eyes where the pink meets the gray active at the moment of exposure. Click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/09/13/rear-focus-tutorial/) if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

To learn more about the creation of this image and current conditions at Gatorland see the "It's Been a Long Time; Flash Re-visited" blog post here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2014/03/24/its-been-a-long-time-flash-re-visited-mint-500mm-f4l-is-ii-for-sale/).

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[John Robinson]

Exposed perfectly and the focal point sharp which is what matters.
I reckon I would crop out the body part at the bottom and then narrow the shot a little. Just my view - no big deal.
JohnR

[Aidan Briggs]

Hey Artie, I love the breeding plumage with the pink lores. Perfect exposure and sharpness. Would like to see a little more DOF, but at 1200mm I doubt a smaller aperture would have much of an effect.

Looking forward to more, and I hope everything is going well for you!

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Artie, I love the breeding plumage with the pink lores. Perfect exposure and sharpness. Would like to see a little more DOF, but at 1200mm I doubt a smaller aperture would have much of an effect.

Looking forward to more, and I hope everything is going well for you!

Thanks Aidan! It is good to here from you. I was wondering about a week ago how and where you were :)

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Now that's a crazy look! but I love it!
The focused, bright yellow eyes just pop out of the mask the feather-do looks great! (no hair-do for this one!) also I find the details on whites to be quite challenging but you did great in this one.

[arash_hazeghi]

haha looks like she woke up with bad hair and a hangover! nice exposure and BG

[christopher galeski]

nice one,reminds me of a punk rocker,the BG sets this image off nicely.

[Marina Scarr]

Really loving the straight on look, breeding colors and hairdo here!

[Satish Ranadive]

Arthur Sir,
Gorgeous portrait. Wonderful details. Magical whites.Beautiful concentration of bird and lovely composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the hairdo, sharpness, breeding colours and composition. Excellent image Arthur.

[David Salem]

Nice job on the exposure and the detail. Love the breeding colors and the hair doo. Nice work

[Sandy Witvoet]

Love how the headress (beautifully flared feathers) leads the viewer directly to the Egret's face.