Dutch Bittern

[Willem Verboom]

This bird we don't see very often her in Holland because it is very shy. Only in the winter he/she comes out voor foot like little fish.



iso 800 f 8 1/200 comp + 1/3 500mm + 1,4 700 mm

[Joe Senzatimore]

Very busy to the eye , but it is a very well done habitat shot which I'm sure was not easy to get. Fine job. Congrats are in order.

[Todd Frost]

Agree with busy bg, but this is there environment so we have to deal with it sometimes. I might try bringing down the highlights on bittern a little. TFS
Todd

[Arthur Morris]

Highlights look fine too me. It looks like a pint-sized version of our American Bittern. I like the COMP and the habitat is what it is. I wish only that the bird were angled a bit more towards us.

[Todd Frost]

Artie, I am glad you mentioned that the highlights looked fine to you. With the slowdown of the site I have been using IE8 (I hate IE) instead of my usual Firefox, I just opened up Firefox and what a difference. Agree with you on the highlights, color managed browser makes a big difference. Any idea why IE would be working better for me than firefox?
Todd

[Arthur Morris]

Todd, When it comes to technical stuff, you are asking the wrong dude!

[Willem Verboom]

Thanks for your comments folks!. The issue whit the background I understand very well but you must remember that it is a lucky thing that you see them here. It is nota very commen bird and very shy too.

Willem

[Juan Aragonés]

Willem, highlights looks Ok in my monitor (I use Firefox, by the way). I love the frozen water and the composition of this image with the bird placed near one of the corners. Sharpness and soft light are great, like the head turn and clear eye contact but, what I like the most is the fantastic matching of the bird´s plumage with the backgrounf textures. this is a superb environmental/behavioral portrait of a beautifull species. I love it. Keep them coming

[Willem Verboom]

Juan mucho gracias for your comment.

Willem

[Don de la Rambelje]

Nice shot Willem! Colors of bird and surroundings are lifelike as far as I know the location and lighting conditions.
Seems the bird's body is angled towards you in a way that makes it look small(er). Even more so because it is keeping low while sneaking through and over the vegetation. Referring to Art's remark about the pintsize look: this (Eurasian) bittern is in fact larger than its American relative. Wingspan for example is 35" to 40" for the American bittern and 39" to 51" for the Eurasian bird.

Don

[Willem Verboom]

Thanks Don for your reaction on this picture.

Willem