Great Blue Heron with Armoured Catfish...

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida, last December. I revisited the image and reworked it today with improved post processing skills. When I look at images of herons with fish with these spines I wonder how they can swallow and eat them without puncturing the digestive tract. I guess it is swallowing the prey head first and then strong stomach acids. 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
1/2000 F/5.6 Matrix Metering 0 EV ISO 500 AWB
Post processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC 2017, canvas added at the bottom for 4x5 crop
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Adhika Lie]

Joe, a picture of a bird with breakfast is always welcome! I don't mind the crop at all but I think the deep shadows detract from the image a lot.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Joe, a picture of a bird with breakfast is always welcome! I don't mind the crop at all but I think the deep shadows detract from the image a lot.

Hi Adhika, thank you for viewing and commenting. Your right regarding the shadows, but not much I could do because of the angle the bird chose to fly. I have raised the shadows in post processing but still dark with the Florida bright light. Not often does one get a chance at a heron with a fish this close so I kept the image and posted it.

[Mitch Carucci]

A dramatic image. Despite the dark shadows (Not much you could do there...) I think this is a great pic (That is one amazing looking catfish!)

[Ashkan Ojaghi]

Great one Joe! Love the details on the fish body and lower feathers of the GBH. I only wish for a less harsh light/deep shadows.
TFS