This Great Egret (Egretta alba) presented a great opportunity for a cool head portrait but with a dagger that length, it was a bit tricky. Fortunately the egret was "frozen" as he hunted for fish and I was able to get the two images that I have merged in this pano.
I remember the lores being brighter green, but perhaps my memory is wrong. Perhaps with yellow coming back into the bill, this is morphing from breeding colors back to normal? Maybe there is some way to tease more colour from it.
Images were taken from a hide with a Canon 5D MkII, with an EF500 f/4L and a 25mm extension tube. 1/250 sec at F9, ISO 800, subject distance 4.65 meters.
After merging, NR on the background and removing two intrusive reeds and removing slight vignette. Slight levels adjustment only.
I like the pano presentation. You did a nice job with the merge. The colors do look a little washed out. I wish the head was turned slightly towards you. Also the sun appears to be slightly to the left of your subject, creating brighter whites on the back of the head and neck than on the face.
You did well with the head merge Gerald. :) I do wish for a bit more DOF. I guess this is from one of those famous Hungarian hides? Then did you also use a tripod? If that is the case, but HH would have been possible too, to get a bit more DOF by stopping down a little more. At least that is what I am thinking. :) Well done regardless, it's hard to get these guys so close, so hides are great to have handy. :D
Thanks for the comments, guys...
Don, I think the elongation may be an optical illusion from the proportions - sure no stretching was required.
Doug, yes, the light was from behind, but was pretty much diffused - but also he did have a dirty face :), which kind of exaggerated the shadow - well that's my story anyhow! I shall try adding a little more strength to the colours.
Nick, thanks, it was an idea I got right here on BPN... Also handy if you can't help but clip a tail on a perched bird - get the bottom half as a separate image and merge.
Akos, in hindsight, I might have been able to up the ISO for extra DOF but I was mostly trying to get the eye and the full length of the bill sharp. In this "famous Hungarian hide" you are shooting through glass and do loose 1.3 to 1.6 f/ stops - so you are always compromising and struggling to ensure you have enough shutter speed. Tripod was essential for most of the images and we were laying or sitting only in this hide - no standing height. Very cosy, though and great opportunities.