5DmkIII, ss 1/250, f9, ISO1600, 300mm2.8+2XTC, tripod, fill flash w/BB.
Crop for composition.
They were both looking in every which direction, this is the only shot, I got, with both birds looking in the same general direction.
Your all so luck to have so may heron and egret species over there in the US.
I like the composition an the way they are both positioned without overlapping.
I find myself drawn to the top birds eye which looks a little strange. It this a normal eye?
Both birds look slightly overexposed but that could be the monitor I am on. Is it slightly too much flash?
Your field techniques are solid and this is a nice well executed photograph. The framing is nice...rule of thirds and the background is clean and well muted. I might move the subjects more toward the lower left hand corner. Shooting 600MM at 1/250 can produce softness in the frame...was this HH?
I like the f/9 choice and getting two in focus is always challenging...what was the point of focus assume center sensor?
Again...nice picture like you mentioned HA and a bit more detail would make it stronger but well done. Please keep em coming.
One more thing: the capture angle is great, basically at their eye level...very nice!
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 07-28-2013 at 12:06 PM.
I love the symmetry of both looking in the same direction.
It appears the fill flash brightened the bill of the near bird. It also presents what to me is an unnatural sheen to the bough needles.
Because of the way the flash illuminates the needles, it accentuates what appears to be their increased sharpness relative to the target birds. It also suggests that your gear may be front-focussing a bit.
Some years ago I experimented with flash in the field, and personally, didn't like the 'studio' effect it could sometimes give to natural settings. I found that I prefer to work with the light Nature provides in each setting, and work with that.
This is just my personal preference, and is not intended to ignite a debate about the use of flash in the great outdoors.
Thank you all for your observations and always helpful comments.
Bill, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about using flash in the field. Still learning!!
Young Green herons
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