Green Heron Wing Stretch and Yawn.

Trying very hard to impress me, this young Green Heron struck a pose that was really pretty cool. I was already photographing the scene in vertical orientation (for the reflection) therefore minimal cropping done - only to strengthen the comp.

Canon 7D + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/5.6, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, lightened the eye and face on the shaded side, reduced the saturation on the lower mandible, a few spots in the water removed, and some toning down of brighter grasses in the BG (a couple of them fully removed via clone and content aware). NR to BG and FG.

Liked this one the first time I saw it on FB. Very cool pose (he looks very upset :)) and the reflection really adds to the image. Would be nice if you could make the BG above the bird less busy but this is a small nit on what is otherwise an awesome image. Nice one Daniel..

Super cool pose! I like the fact that the lover mandible is about to touch the water. It adds to the reflection as well. I don't have any problem with the BG; shows the environment where this bird lives. Nice work.

Fabulous pose. Great colors, your usual low POV. BG is fine by my book. Based on the reflection I'd consider a slight CW rotation.

A top quality image Daniel, reflection is just great.

Keith.

Works for me, Daniel. You captured the richness of coloration of these guys, helped by the nice green surround. Unique wing stretch, including yawn.




Geoffrey

Very nice. Like it a lot :S3:

Very unique pose, I have never seen on do that. It must be a goofy juvenile. The reflection adds to the image. All up to your normal high standards.

great dynamic pose Dan! love the composition

Great stuff daniel , and I like thereflection !! Wow Robbo likes a reflection ! It eworks in this case I think.
John

Truly gorgeous.

Very nice pose, lovely habitat and details.

nice pose,like the colors,as a painterly look this image.

Gorgeous! What a pose! I think it's awesome that you imaged this vertically too. One consideration would be to play around with a little selective blurring in the upper part of the frame just to soften the PS work....I would have guessed you did some PS work up there with cloning even before you disclosed it, just because of the way it looks...I also respect that you disclose your PS work!

Hey guys, thanks a bunch for the comments and suggestions!:S3:

Hi Dan, love this 'aggressive' pose with a full view of the open beak, and semi raised wings. Vertical captures are the only way to go when wanting to include reflections, and this one is pretty clear.

Killer pose and comp.

Wow! Killer frame, Daniel! Excellent composition, colors and light! Love the pose, reflection and the texture of the water. Processing is excellent as usual.

Spectacular action packed image with beautiful reflection.Very nice composition.

Regards,
Satish.