Singing in the Rain

[Arthur Morris]

This image was also created at Gatorland on the very rainy Saturday of May 3, 2014. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 2X III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 1000. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/100 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode. AWB.

Central Sensor/AI Servo-Expand/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and re-compose. Learn everything there is to know about the 1D X and 5D III AF systems including how to manage the various AF Area Selection Modes, when to use which one, and several ways to move the AF sensor around in the 1D X AF Guide and the 5D Mark III User’s Guide. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Fill flash with Better Beamer at -3 stops in ETTL. Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT with the Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack for faster re-charging times. Wimberley F-1 Flash Bracket with the Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3.

Click here for a lesson on good and bad head angles and related bill angle issues for tight head shots of wading birds... There is also info on the Umbrella Clamp.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome.

See also my new post in the BPN Head Angle thread here.

[Troy Lim]

Love the rain drops, the slow SS creating the long rain drop and those that are on the feathers.

[Binu John]

I really like the pose, details and the rain drops. Love the use of 1/100 shutter speed to get a sharp portrait of the egret and the long rain drops in the background!

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Excellent technique, beautiful composition and I love the rain drops. Awesome image overall. TFS Guru Artie!

[MohsenVahedipour]

Perfect technique. Lovely composition, extended rain drops & IQ.

[Jay Gould]

White is always white! Lovely capture!! The length of the rain droplets - 1/100 isn't exactly slow SS - those drops must have been falling super fast!

[Luis Patacao]

I always enjoy rain in motion and this is not an exception, but i love the water drops on the egret head. Their crystal look together with the detail of the egret is amazing.

[Randy Stout]

Artie:

The lores are great on this one, the subtle flash nicely handled overall, yielding the bright drops. Lovely details.

I might consider toning down the sheen on the lower aspect of the bottom mandible, just because it does give a bit of a flashed look.

Cheers

Randy

[Raybel Robles]

Great image!

I was in Orlando for 2 weeks and visited Gatorland Apr 27th. I was going to go back on the same day you took this photo but like you said it was a very rainy day and I didn't go and instead went to a Disney park with the family :(.

[Karl Egressy]

Amazing portrait, Artie. One of the best images I have ever seen taken on a rainy day.

[Robert Kimbrell]

A Beautiful Image, and informative Blog on the head angle to go with it.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Robert. Missed you at Fort DeSoto this weekend. Only a very few birds but lots of great opps.