Black-crowned Night-Heron portrait

[Bill Dix]

This fellow showed up at our local lake a few weeks ago. (Thanks Geoffrey for the tip.) By the time I got there and had my rig out of the car, he had retreated into a willow thicket. His bottom half was obscured, so I opted for a horizontal close-up, and cropped to a 9:16 format. C&C appreciated.

D7000, 700mm, 1/320s @ f/7.1 manual, fill @ -1.7.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Bill,

Even though you mentioned that he retreated into in the thicket, it looks like you were able to really separate him from the background. Nice job on the fill, too.

Not positive, but I see just a smidge of blue cast on the crown?

Miguel

[PhilCook]

These stunners often look better cropped to a portrait as you have done, it brigs more attention to the great eye and crest. Pretty tough conditions but exposure looks good, is the end of his beak behind grass or something as it looks just a little bit soft in that spot. Like how the light catches the dark plumage on his head bringing out the detail nicely

[Karl Egressy]

Very nice portrait shot, Bill I like the HA eye contact and feather detail.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I agree you managed to separate the heron well from such a busy bg. They are such cool and interesting looking birds. I am glad you managed to get the crest feather

[Dperkell]

Love it!

[Bill Dix]

These stunners often look better cropped to a portrait as you have done, it brigs more attention to the great eye and crest. Pretty tough conditions but exposure looks good, is the end of his beak behind grass or something as it looks just a little bit soft in that spot. Like how the light catches the dark plumage on his head bringing out the detail nicely

Yes, Phil, there was an oof leaf in that spot. I tried to boost the contrast there to disguise it, but couldn't make it go away.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent portrait,beautiful colors and details. Love the eye.

Regards,
Satish.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks everyone.