Canon 40D, Canon 300 2.8L + 2X, 1/1000, f6.3, ISO 800, Tripod, Polarizing filter.
Taken 15minutes after sunrise.
I wish head to be sharper. Chest a little overexposed, don't know what I could have done to prevent that, other than underexposing the rest of the image. Feathers on the water left intentionally, they are part of the environment. Maybe the large one on the left should be taken out. Wish I had been lower to the water. That would have put the BG water/foliage demarcation line lower behind the bird rather than right at the wings. That line should be leveled.
What else?
First thing than pops out at me is the use of a polarizer? Not sure I would use one at this time, you have beautiful soft light and usually scrambling for speed.
Did not see the exposure compensation or the exposure mode, both will make a difference. On Av or any auto modes you will normally overexpose the image due to the dark tones .. meter trying to open up. Good to check histogram closely and look for blinkies !!!
I'm sure it would be no problem recouping the highlights, its very close. We got several tutorials on multiplying the layers, if help is needed can PM me.
Do like the landing pose with spread out wings. Sharpness wise the image has soft light and feel so the bird looks fine to me, overall feel is excellent.
One thing I wish we did not have is all those feathers in the water, clean water would have made a stronger image and trying to clone them out is not an option !!! Excellent image and you did real well !!!
I had metered on a standing bird and adjusted the polarizing lens for the effect most pleasing to me just moments before this bird flew in. Exposure mode was manual. As the sun rises I'll re-check my exposure periodically, and still stay in manual mode. For a standing or perched bird I may use Av or Tv mode. I prefer manual for BIF's.
Had there been no feathers on the water would have told me the birds were not using that area and I would have gone to another area that had feathers. Returned a few days later, no feathers and no birds. I agree, no feathers on the water would make a stronger image. Maybe I'll see if I want to spend the effort to clone them out.
Love the pose of this one, the wing span and the raise foot off the water. Sharpness look alright to me. The line in the background kind of distract so maybe a CCW rotation, and I would crop more off the bottom since the reflection is not clear. Not sure how harsh was your light condition, maybe a more cloudy sky would help with the exposure.
Great Blue Heron at Sunrise
