Little Blue Heron

[Joseph Przybyla]

This is one I captured a while ago that I worked on this morning. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm (600mm FFE)
1/640 F/5.6 Matrix Metering +1 EV ISO 1400 AWB, camera supported by a monopod
Post processed in Lightroom 6 and Photoshop Elements 10
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Jack Dean III]

I love this. I can't think of a single thing that I would change. :)

[David Cowling]

Pose, DOF, sharpness and colour are all superb. I never knew there was a Heron with this colouration and I am really glad to see it so well presented.

[Glenn Conlan]

Nice, outstanding color and presentation

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Joe, is it really that Blue, because everything has a cast within it? Just asking, as I've never seen one.

Cheers
Steve

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Steve, I thought too blue also. I was hoping someone would chime in. Peterson describes the adult color as bluish slate with a deep maroon-brown neck, bill pale blue with a dark tip. Stokes the color of the bird as, dark bluish-gray body with a maroon head and neck. bill bluish gray at base with a dark tip. The color of the head and neck becomes more pronounced ad maroon/purple when breeding. I think the image was a little cool so I increased the temperature a bit and the tint slightly towards green. I think this is close to the true color.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice pose and outstanding detail, Joe.

[Steve Kaluski]

I wonder if the plumage is more like the Slaty Egret, albeit more Grey blue?

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Steve, I am not familiar with the Slaty Egret, but from seeing this bird many times it is more blue grey or grey blue than a neutral grey. Thanks for your continued interest and help.

[dankearl]

Very nice presentation, the repost looks good to me color wise....