Another Black-headed Heron

[Chris van Rooyen]

Another Black-headed Heron that I captured recently at our local bird sanctuary.

Camera Model: NIKON D3
Date/Time: 2009:04:23 1611
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 4
Exposure mode: Tv
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
ISO: 1400
Lens: 600mm f/4
Focal length: 600mm
Focal length: 600mm (in 35mm film)
AF mode: AF-C

[Daniel Cadieux]

Wickedly nice BG!! Excellent raised crest. Exposure and sharpness look spot-on. It would have been nice with a tiny bit better head angle. Looks like a possible clone mark of the tip of the bill in front of the chest?

[Randy Stout]

Chris:

Daniel hit the high points. The background is wonderful. The head angle is so close, that I find it hard to call which way it lies relative to parallel with sensor plane.

The branch clutter at the bottom is slightly distracting. Perhaps just tone it down a smidge.

Thanks for sharing.

Randy

[Tony Whitehead]

Superb BG and subject sharpness showing the plumes to full advantage. Well spotted by Dan to see the ghost of the bill.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Great exposure job in B&W situation.
You preserved the whites and did not lose the blacks.
I simply envy you on that noiseless ISO:)

Perhaps I would add a bit of space on top and left.
Not bothered by perch too much.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the comments guys! Daniel I did not do any cloning on the background, I'm not sure what it is that you are seeing?

[Isak Pretorius]

Lovely details, BG, and attention drawn to the eye. Very nice!

Chris, could you explain the 600f4 please ;-)

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hi Chris. This is what I am seeing...with the same shape and angle as the bill I thought that was a faint clone mark. If you didn't touch the BG then I'm not sure what it could be, but I would certainly eliminate it :-)

[Ken Watkins]

Hi Chris,

I can see something as well, I have plotted its whereabouts using rulers it is around 3 from the left and 13 from top.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Weird?? thanks I'll take it out:-)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great details, soft light and BG. Since you didn't clone I'm wondering where the 'ghost bill' is coming from, I'm a little puzzled about it.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the comments guys:) I guess I may have inadvertently been on the clone tool instead of the zoom tool at some stage? Anyway, well spotted Daniel:D