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Thread: Squacco Heron

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Default Squacco Heron

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    Normally I post images with thick perches, so I'm glad I can present a thinner perch for this image. This was captured at a wetlands south of Johannesburg, and this Squacco Heron was busy deciding if he wanted to fish or relax in the early morning light. In this, I managed a decent pose that he wasnt intersecting with the perch. The BG is water, and his leg is covered with some duckweed.

    Canon 1D Mark IV
    Canon 100-400mm @ 285mm
    1/2500
    F/8.0
    ISO 800

    Manual exposure
    Hand Held

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Normally I post images with thick perches, so I'm glad I can present a thinner perch for this image.
    Great choice by the Squacco Stu, the slender, thin perch is in keeping with the delicate and fine details of the subject. The slight curve of the perch is a nice touch and the 3/4 pose really shows the bird off very well. The blue separates the subject and isolates everything oh so well, I even like the small feather caught on the perch. Perhaps a sliver off the top, but personal tastes here Stu.

    For me, it a lovely portrait of the subject, nice work Bud.

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Jack Backs's Avatar
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    Beautiful image. Just love the bird/background color combo. I would be in the camp of removing the feather. I find it distracting.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    These are such beautiful birds, and you've caught him in a great pose, sweet light and the perfect background. Would be a lovely image with or without the feather, but for me it adds a touch of interest.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Top notch frame Stu, wonderful light, and the angle of the bird is spot on. The feather did catch my eye, but having it there is far from a deal breaker for me

    Mike

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Sweet subject in nice light. More frontal lighting would have prevented the shadows on the perch, but the nicely sunlit feet gripping it are pretty neat. I could see a version with the heron a bit more to our right, but very nice image overall.

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    Hi Stu, lovely image, as Artie would say " Just about perfect". All's been said by the previous comments. Thank you for sharing.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

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    Nice subject in nice light what more could you ask for. Love that dark background. I could see the bird more to the right.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thank you all for all the feedback. Always appreciated.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Ditto all the positives above. A gorgeous image of a gorgeous bird. A slight bit more head turn towards us would not have upset me.

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    Looks great Stu. Great details and a nice perch for this heron. Perfect light. I would be thrilled to have a shot like this of this species.

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    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    Excellent Stu..super perch and a fabulous look at this lovely coloured bird. The details around the head are lovely..Well done mate. Nice one.

    Will

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    This lighting is fabulous, Stu! The orange and blue are perfect together. I'd be tempted to clone out the feather tuft on the underside of the branch. I'd also love to see it as a vertical/portrait
    to make him a bit bigger in the frame and see a bit more detail on those wonderful feet/legs!

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    Lifetime Member David Salem's Avatar
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    This is beautiful Stu!! Love the light and he really pops off that dark BG so well. The pose and that hair do are perfect. I also see a strong vertical in this one too. Well done
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    Very nice Stu...Great light pose and comp...Nice to still see you on BPN!

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