Least Bittern holding on

[Blake Shadle]

Dad and I don't get to spend a lot of time out on the Hooptie just the two of us like we used to. Which isn't a bad thing because we really love the company of our guests! Saturday was the first time Dad and I got out on the boat (just the two of us) in about 6 or 7 months... it was an awesome day!

This image was made out at our Plant City rookery. There's so much going on there right now it's unbelievable.

Shooting Solution
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Sigma 500 f/4.5, manually focused
Manual Exposure, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 400, Full frame
Hand held from the Hooptie Duex

Comments welcome and much appreciated :)

Thanks for looking!

[Gus Cobos]

Hey Blake,
I like this little guy and his balancing act. Very well placed between the blades of grass...:D

[Adams Serra]

Hey Blake,
Beautiful picture, the yellow blades of grass in the background complements the colors of the bird.I also like how you did the cropping in camera.

Adams

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This is very cool. I like the light, setting, details and pose.

[Cindy Cone]

Love everything about this - particularly the composition and pose for a bird that's often difficult to capture!

[Blake Shadle]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the comments. Since taking the image I've noticed it looks a little flat. I feel that the above repost makes the subject stand out a little better. What do you think? Does the adjustment bring out the shadows more and make the background more distracting? Let me know what you think! ;)

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, the repost looks better. Very cool photo, I don't find the BG distracting at all...simply the environment expected for these guys.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Great image and habitat . The pose really puts it over the top for me Blake. !!!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Overlord !!!! Classic bittern pose !!! The boost in contrast did the trick Fine image. I like how you got the body all out in the clear and captured that special look they have !!! ..... glad you guys had the time !!!! :)

[Freddy Franzella]

Wow Blake this is one cool image! I like the way you captured it holding onto the reeds! really well done!

[Phil Seu]

really nice composition

phil seu

[Philip Pietri]

Bahlf...
The repost certainly works a lot better. I think you've picked up a lot more details and color. I love everything about it. Keep it up, bud.

[Nikolay Staykov - shotlandetsa]

Wonderfull capture and timing !!!