Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

[Phil Richardson]

Came across this juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron at the Morro Bay California marina a couple of weeks ago. Apparently there is a rookery in the trees nearby. Got a water background. Cleaned up a few water reflections. 80% of FF.
7D, 400 f5.6L @ 6.3, 1/800, ISO 250, HH, natural light, evaluative metering

[PhilCook]

Love that detail showing through, and great eye, I'd perhaps consider adding more canvas to the right so as it's not such a square frame

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful light, detail, bg. Love that hunched look. Yes to a bit more room at right.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the sharpness, details, eye and clean BG. Another vote for more room on the right. Well done Phil.

[Phil Richardson]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Being relatively new here, I wasn't aware of the preference for 2x3 format vs 4x5. I think I have a lot to learn . Now that you mention it, I can see the bird is a little crowded on the right, so I will certainly take your advice.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice details and exposure. Too bad the sun was not lower to prevent the shadow across the top of the eye. Always fun to run into cooperative subjects!

[Phil Richardson]

Thanks for the comments Daniel! Yes, he was very cooperative. Although I was lucky to get a few shots with his eye open. He was dozing as I shot and had it half closed for a number of them. I've been much luckier with the juveniles than the adults. The adults seem much more secretive or at least more afraid of us photographers. I see what you mean about the shadow on the eye.