Great Blue with Nesting material.

I have been photographing GBH nesting behavior for last 3 years and this year I decided to push my boundaries a little bit and work on out of box images. Objective of this image was to capture a GBH with nesting material on black background. This guy was picking up sticks from a berm in shadow which provided the dark background. I metered the bird in ambient light on the nest and used the same settings to capture him on dark background just before he exited the shadow region.

I found this stick and wing position combination most interesting out of the series.

Post processing: Reduced exposure by 0.15 during post processing and cloned out couple of bright spots.

Canon 7D 500mm F4
ISO 320 1/2000 F6.3

original here Just in case if anyone is interested.

Awesome final result Sid! I love the curved twig mimicking those of the heron, very cool. Pano crop works very well too. I wonder if you bring out just a bit more detail on the far wing's underside (maybe half way between the two images)

P.S. Love your new astronaut avatar!!

I really like what you did in post Sid! I might sharpen the head just a little. And I like the idea of lightening the underside of the far wing.

Thanks Doug and Dan. Working on repost.

Really like this one Sid. The black creates a dramatic atmosphere for me. Like the pose too! :)

Hi Sid,

This shot has an eerie feel with the black background....very unique. The stick has a cool shape as well that I like. Great pano comp in your OP.

DB

Very nice exposure and nicely worked as a panoramic. The way the light just highlights the head, neck and leading edges of the wings is magical!

I like the crop, twig and dark BG. Look forward to seeing repost with the far underwing lightened up. Great image Sid!

Sid, terririfc shot. well seen, excuted and processed. that curved stick in the mouth makes this very special. TFS.

Excellent Composition Sid I love the mood captured really nicely done.

nice with nesting material, focus seems to be on the chest leaving the head a bit soft.

Wonderful image Sid love the use of the dark BG and the curve of the branch following the curve of the herons wings.