Squacco Heron ( breeding)

[Stu Bowie]

If you knew what I was up against to achieve this, Im more than happy. I came up to this waterway in my car driving very slowly, as there is always some birdlife in this area. As I looked down towards the water, this squacco heron was perched on the rock. The whole area is under overhanging trees, taken early morning with just about no sunlight. This is also my first image of one of these guys. I also had to deal with trying to shoot him between bits of foliage. Taken in a small nature reserve close to my house.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/250
F/6.3
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held from the car.

[Christopher Marek]

If you knew what I was up against to achieve this, Im more than happy. I came up to this waterway in my car driving very slowly, as there is always some birdlife in this area. As I looked down towards the water, this squacco heron was perched on the rock. The whole area is under overhanging trees, taken early morning with just about no sunlight. This is also my first image of one of these guys. I also had to deal with trying to shoot him between bits of foliage. Taken in a small nature reserve close to my house.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/250
F/6.3
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held from the car.

breathtaking sharpness. You say hand held? Did you have the camera resting on anything. I can't imagine getting this if I was had holding without additional support.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Hi Stuart, What a handsome heron! Fantastic pose, perch, and bg. Those legs look really awesome. Not sure, but was the critical focus on the shoulder?
Thanks for sharing.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, love the colour, really makes the heron 'ping' out, good detail too.

Lucky to have this close by.

TFS
Steve :cheers:

[Stu Bowie]

Not sure, but was the critical focus on the shoulder?


Thanks Sidharth. Good observation. I had a look and the focus point was just below the shoulder.

Thanks Christopher. When Im in the car, I dont rest on anything, and always handhold my 100-400, even when shooting out in the field.

[James Salywoda]

Gorgeous bird and colors nice angle of capture and of course sharp.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Sharp, soft colors, great perch, duck weed gives more interest to the water, nice feet too.

Good job under trying circumstances.

Cheers

Randy

[Doug Brown]

Congrats on getting such a nice first image of a species. The natural habitat is fantastic and the bird looks great in that breeding plumage! I might add some canvas to the top, bottom, and right.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, this is excellent. Loved the BG. Good call on not cropping the rock. Terrific sharpness.

[Ken Watkins]

Stuart,

Great capture, I have always found these difficult, no idea why.

Is the BG pond weed?

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a lot for the feedback and comments guys.

Doug. I have quite a bit of canvas left all round. Thanks for the advice.

Ken. Im actually not sure what the weed is called. Ive become attached to the word duckweed - not sure if its correct :confused:

[Mital Patel]

liked the setting here. lucky to get such calm green vegetation over the water and having perch on that for such birds are great addition. very well taken.

[Pieter de Waal]

Well done Stuart good sharpness with HH at that SS. Lovely exposure which shows the delicate colours in the plumage to great effect and being in the shade has helped. I find the colours on this species get easily blown with a bit more light. Also like the composition.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Stuart, love this image. The HA and perch works for me.

[Johan Kruger]

Lovely image Stuart, was this Rietvlei ? I might just go and look for your model on Sunday :)

[Sid Garige]

Great image Stuart. Habitat very well included.

[denise ippolito]

Stuart, Fantastic! The green BG really makes this special. I like the sharp details and the pose. I agree a bit more room up top. Well done.:)

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the feedback and comments. Always appreciated.

[Craig Brelsford]

Stuart, your story adds much to my appreciation of this photo. I don't find it surprising that you achieved such sharpness hand-held; your lens wouldn't be so very unwieldy.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack Craig.