Black Crowned Night Heron

[Don Thompson]

From a local nature preserve. Not a common sight in Indiana.

Canon 10D 100-400mm, 400mm, f/5.6, 800 ISO 1/640

[Doug Brown]

Great perch, pose, and BG! A little fill flash would have helped illuminate the bird, which is a little dark as presented (at least it is relative to the BG). I would give the bird a little more room up top and remove the horizontal branch on the far left. Thanks for posting!

[Arthur Morris]

The bird looks just a tad dark from here but a little SH/H would alleviate that. I really like the image--the COMP, the BKGR, and the perch as well.

[Doug Brown]

Here's a repost where I did the following:
1. Brightened and sharpened the bird
2. Desaturated the yellow in the BG a little
3. Added some canvas up top
4. Removed the horizontal branch
How do you like this version?

[bill kominsky]

The original was good but the re-post by Doug is stupendous, and what I'll do from now on is send my images to Doug before I post them, nice image and thank you for sharing.

Bill

[Arthur Morris]

Great re-post and an especially good job on getting rid of the branch (which strengthened an already strong COMP).

[Ramon M. Casares]

I think that also some Noise Reduction might help, I like this image very much, compo, colours and light are very good! Congratulations!

[Don Thompson]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Doug I agree that the bird is a little dark.This was taken before I knew about fill flash and high speed sync. I still don't use fill flash as much as I should, but my flash (Sigma) can be a pain to use in high speed sync mode. I will reprocess and see if I can lift some of the shadow areas, then repost.

I do like the additional area at the top. I may have a bit more room on the original file.

I agree the branch is a bit of a distraction and would prefer it to not be there, but I generally avoid removing objects, especially to that degree. It makes my film buddies happier. What exactly is about the horizontal branch that you don't like. It because it is there, or because it runs out of the left side? If you could see the end of the branch would that make a difference? If it is that, I may also have a bit more room on the left side on the original file.

Thanks again for the comments.

[Doug Brown]

I just think the perch looks better without it. I understand also that not everyone is comfortable removing things from photos; to each his own I say.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Don,

re:

I do like the additional area at the top. I may have a bit more room on the original file.

If you do I would be surprised as there would have been no need to crop so closely from the top...

I agree the branch is a bit of a distraction and would prefer it to not be there, but I generally avoid removing objects, especially to that degree.

I am fine with folks who choose not to remove anything from their images, but when you add "especially to that degree," it leaves me puzzled a bit. You remove something. It is removed. How can you draw the line. Removed is removed.

It makes my film buddies happier.

Might be a good plan to make yourself happier... :) :) :)

What exactly is about the horizontal branch that you don't like. It because it is there, or because it runs out of the left side? If you could see the end of the branch would that make a difference? If it is that, I may also have a bit more room on the left side on the original file.

My great prefence would be to remove it entirley as Doug did in his excellent repost. Why? The resulting V-shaped perch that fits entirely within the frame is simply more pleasing to my eye. In addition, it yields a cleaner look.

Thanks again for the comments.

YAW