Tiger Heron in the rain

[gail bisson]

I took this in Costa Rica in January 2017. The guy I had hired to take me on the river thought I was nuts to go out on this day in the pouring rain!
Shot as a vertical and is full frame.
1 DX 600mm
ISO 2500 SS 1/200 F 5.6
Hand held from a boat
Processed in LR 5 and CS6. Nothing added or cloned.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

[John Mack]

This is great love the extra element the rain brings. The composition is quite nice. Good background. If its raining or snowing i will be out there shooting.

[Daniel Cadieux]

How cool is that plumage! Awesome details, and yes, the train adds a lot. I especially like the the drops that bounced off behind the head. There is one drop, however, that I would remove: the one directly at the tip of the bill. I also get the feeling the darks or midtones could go a touch deeper. All-in-all a high-impact image. Super!

[Juan Tolentino]

Great image Gail, great call to go out in the rain (I bet this is not a very common image!!). Agree with Dan about the color depth, looks like you need to clear the haze caused by the rain, I would try the dehaze slider on the Adobe Camera RAW filter in PS and see if you like the results. I'm wondering why you posted the image so small?? TFS

[annmpacheco]

Fancy neck feathers and I love the raindrops on and off the bird! I like your choice of ss to pronounce the falling rain. I agree w Dan, browns could be richer. I also like the bits of green. Wonderful HA, pretty cool Heron, good for you chasing birds in the rain!

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful image. Agree with above comments. At least your guide didn't refuse to take you out. Well done!

[Alex Becker]

This is really cool. I agree with the above comments. I really love how the rain drops going off the head are visibly angled. I think a bit more contrast on the head would add. TFS

[Tim Foltz]

Gail, very nice subject and environment, nice details and HA, I would jut add a bit more contrast.

-Tim

[Mike Poole]

Superb image Gail, great looking bird with a nice head angle, and the falling rain really adds to the shot

Mike

[Joseph Przybyla]

Quite nice, love the plumage on the bird... very distinctive. I agree on trying the Dehaze Filter in either ACR or Lightroom, it sometimes does wonder. Thank you for sharing.

[Isaac Grant]

Very pretty Gail. Always good to be out in the elements and to make images that those who stay dry when in the field don't get to make. I like the composition very much. I agree that the shot needs more blacks in the neutrals and the blacks. You also need to warm it up a bit. As presented I don't get the feel of the lush greenery that these birds live in.

[gail bisson]

Thank you all for your comments.
The reason this is posted so small is that I processed this back in Feb 2017, before we had the image size increase. I did not have access to the original file as I am at the cottage with no access to my external hard drive.
Even worse, is that I have a better processed one with all of the above issues addressed because I submitted it to BPOTY and the image made the finals! Again, I did not have access to the better processed image. My very bad...I just wanted to post an image
Gail

[Robert Kimbrell]

Quite a unique image. I love it. The rain adds so much. I also wonder if it could go slightly darker. What lens did you use?

[annmpacheco]

Hey Gail,
congrats on this image being chosen in the finals for BPOTY, quite an accomplishment and a gorgeous image. Please repost when you can!

[David Salem]

These guys are so cool and I also got a chance to shoot them in CR. That feather pattern is stunning. I like the pose and the rain adds to the overall scene. Yes to a few more points of black but otherwise a real nice frame. Congrats on the finals too!! Well done Gail

[Arthur Morris]

I love everything about this one, especially the rain. Did you use a rain cover or did the boat have a top?

with love, artie

[gail bisson]

Quite a unique image. I love it. The rain adds so much. I also wonder if it could go slightly darker. What lens did you use?
Hi Robert, I used my 600mm!

[gail bisson]

I love everything about this one, especially the rain. Did you use a rain cover or did the boat have a top?

with love, artie
Hi artie,
I used a rain cover!

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks. Which one?

a

[gail bisson]

Thanks. Which one?

a
The very cheap Rainsleeve by OpTech USA! $11.oo. I have an expensive one but it is a pain in the butt to put on...
Gail

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks and :S3:

a

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Gail. These Herons can be very cooperative or skittish. I looks like you had a tolerant one. I like the composition, rain, IQ and browns in the BG compliment the bird well.