Yellow-crowned night heron

[arash_hazeghi]

Another image from Florida, taken from Jim's boat. We only had one shot at this guy and we all made an almost identical image. Jim used his call technique to attract the YCNH.

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1D4 500mm f/4 1/2500sec handheld from boat. (to answer a few questions about IS, I always use IS mode 2 for handheld flight shots)

you can see larger size here (http://ari1982.smugmug.com/Animals/Shorebirds-and-Egrets/10580713_yZ5qN#1287957140_sjkJ8J3-X2-LB)

[Luis Villablanca]

Love the banking pose and the open bill. There is lots of detail to appreciate on the bird.
I would suggest moving the bird a little to the left since it seems a bit centered to me.

[jack williamson]

Inspiring! I love looking at sharp inflight shots like this. Another very well done image Arash.

Jack

[Sachin Saraf]

Stunning capture Arash! You surely mastered the BIF technique and it's treat to watch your BIF shots...Keep em coming..

[stuart wanuck]

love that banking image

[dankearl]

So sharp, it jumps off the screen. Amazing, maybe the best I have seen from you.
I agree that moving it just a tad left would improve it, but that is really quibbling.
What is your focusing mode technique, if you don't mind sharing?
You get so many of these shots so focused and sharp, is there a trick besides
practice, skill and experience?

[Mitch Carucci]

Wonderful position. Dynamic. Great image. What do you think about just a bit more contrast?

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Arash,

This is lovely! What great view of the top of the wings with a good head angle. Capturing the bird calling is a plus. Great detail and well exposed. Very very nice!!!

Regards,

Phil

[Alan Murphy]

This image inspires me. I wish it was mine. A fine top shot image.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I wish it was mine too, what a fantastic image! Open bill is a plus, and great details on the heron's plumage.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Geez, well I wish it were mine too then. I think one of my favorite flying YCNH I've seen. Love the wing detail, eye contact as well as the calling . I like the crop myself.

[Marina Scarr]

The best YCNH flight image I have ever seen. Congrats on this one, Arash.

[Doug Brown]

That was a fun afternoon Arash! Excellent pose and detail!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Excellent pose, exposure and needless to say - details.
Your images never fail to impress.
Very well done, Arash.

[Tom Rambaut]

I'm speechless!

[thijs broekkamp]

Wow great image! Beautiful lightening and sharpness, really great shot!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Arash, its great when you are all ready and you nail the shot. :w3 Cool banking posture, excellent sharp detail, and the open beak puts this over the top.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thank you all for nice comments! appreciate it

[Dumay de Boulle]

Great pose and super sharp eye...Very nice

[arash_hazeghi]

So sharp, it jumps off the screen. Amazing, maybe the best I have seen from you.
I agree that moving it just a tad left would improve it, but that is really quibbling.
What is your focusing mode technique, if you don't mind sharing?
You get so many of these shots so focused and sharp, is there a trick besides
practice, skill and experience?

Hi Dan,

Thanks a lot for your kind words. Here is how you get shots like this:
You have to practice a lot so you can raise your rig up to your line of sight really fast and quickly put the bird in the center of the frame where the AF cluster is. Here the BG was sky so the focus locks fast and stays locked as long as the bird is centered. so it's all about having fast reflexes in doing the above, if you try to search for the bird looking through the finder most likely you will miss the shot.

[dankearl]

Thanks Arash, I will just keep shooting and using your photos for inspiration.