Although we have a fair number of summer time GBHs in Michigan, they are pretty spooky. I have never had any luck with getting good pictures of them here, unlike Florida where they will pick your pockets.
I was fortunate to see this juvi while on a loon outing. He was much more tolerant than the adults, and let me drift in fairly close.
I liked the stump he was on, and the clump of grass to the right.
D4 600VR f/6.3 1/1250s ISO 640 Pedestal mounted in Loonie Too.
Post: Leveled and cropped for comp . Added canvas top and bottom. Cleaned up a couple of water lily blossoms on frame edge. Cleaned up catchlight in eye
I agree with you about the stump and the clump of grass...both very nice...as are the BG and subject itself. Exposure and details look very good. I could go for a tad more room at right, but I do like it as is.
The GBHs are very skittish here too...but luckily every year a local pond with heavy human traffic along its paths features one of these during late summer / early fall that is oh-so tame...needless to say it is a popular photographic subject among the local nature photographers!
Good pose and light, low angle. Ditto re the grass on the right. We have a few BGHE on our local lake that are so tame I hardly ever bother pointing the lens their way. This will cause me to reconsider.
Hi Randy,
Before I even read your comments on the OP I thought "what a nice stump and love how the clump of grass balances the shot".
I really like your POV on this guy and have the viewer looking up at the bird.
I would clone out the white smudge to the right of the heron's left leg as well as the white dot at the right hand side of the grass clump.
I like it as is but would love a smidge more on the RHS.
Very nice shot that us northerners will really appreciate because these herons are so darn skittish on this side of North America,
Gail