Grey Heron

[Steve Kaluski]

Just out for a walk to stretch the legs in the frosty morning air, as we have many pairs of Grey Herons nesting in the trees, so it's not had to capture an image of one of these guys. I just went tight in as I love the texture of the feathers juxtapose to the rather 'weathered' bill.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) head/bill close-up
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 500f/4 MKII, plus 1.4MKIII HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/16 ISO2000
Original format: Landscape, cropped form the top, almost FF on with.
Processed via: LRCC (6.3) & PSCC 2015

I just tweaked the BKG to add a little more 'punch'

[Grace Scalzo]

Such fine detail keeps me interested in this frame. No suggestions from me, only accolades.

[keith mitchell]

It's the bill and the eye for me Steve, feather detail is outstanding.

Keith.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely, another lesson learned. Thank you for sharing, Steve.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Steve I have a heron that keeps dropping into my back garden pond but boy is he skittish. Having seen the detail you have captured I am tempted to get in the garden hide and sit patiently. You really have got some really fantastic plumage detail there - inspirational! Oh and I have never seen such exquisite detail in a heron's eye before either!

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks folks, this has been in the back of my mind for some time, albeit perhaps from seeing other images posted over time. I've never pushed the 500 in f/stops and so had nothing to lose and also will be reassessing again about how far I will push the 200-400 and any vibration. I'm still not sure how much more I could extract from the eye, even with a remote next time or MLU. With the Little owls there is so much I can extract very easily to give depth/detail rather than just a yellow blob, because of it's nature/make-up etc, even big cats to a degree, but without being able to really look at the eye close up, it is I feel, hard to know the limitations, but if anyone can shed some info, this would be gratefully received.

Jon, I would give it a try, do some pre exposures and don't rattle off the frames, or at least just change the frame rate internally and set the case setting, this was with the single point for maximum accuracy.

Thanks again.

Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - Just when I think you can't surprise me, you post something like this. Absolutely beautiful detail and exposure control. The darkened bg works to show it off nicely. Nice to see you experimenting with content as well as settings.

TFS,
Rachel

[Diane Miller]

Excellent detail -- I love "macro" shots like this!

[arash_hazeghi]

pretty cool closeup with all the details!

[Lorant Voros]

Looks like a studio shot. Very nice with the light and details. TFS.

[Randy Stout]

Steve:
Great detail, engaging, lots to look at and hold ones interest.

Well done!

Cheers

Randy