Grey Heron up close :)

[Jan Wegener]

We had a very hard winter this year and so all herons had trouble to find food. After a while you could find dozens of them at certain spots. For a little fish they came really close :)
AF didn't work at all for this kind of shot. So I put the fish on the ice, then put the camera in the snow and lay down behind it. Afterwards I focused slightly behind the fish to get a sharp eye and not a sharp beak. After a few test runs I finally got the image I had in mind :)

1D Mark IV
17-40 L
40mm
F9
ISO 800
1/1600

[Arthur Morris]

Good thinking and well executed. Are you sure that it is a Grey Heron? It looks like a Large-headed Heron :)

[Ramon M. Casares]

Simply superb. I felt like a frog (prey) when I saw this image. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Light, detail, comp, colors, ambient, all is just stunning.

[Sid Garige]

Killer out of box image. Very well done.

[Fabs Forns]

Very impressive point of view, very original. Maybe you can get some of the color cast out of the ice.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool idea and well done. I also like the inclusion of the habitat. Nice of you to help them to get through the winter.

[Bryan Hix]

I love the creativity of your setup. The sharpness is fantastic. Great work.:)

[Colin Knight]

Great work all around! Love it!

[Troy Lim]

Jan, great shot and very unusual.

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Very well though and very well done too, love the perspective very much. I also like the background which tells about the environment too. Like this very much, TFS.

[Craig Brelsford]

I'm enjoying and admiring this photo very much. Admire your creativity. You've given us a lot to think about here.

[arash_hazeghi]

very interesting composition Jan, sure wide angle works with birds too!!! Looks like the GBH we have here!

[Bruno Calha]

Nice shot. great point of view, very original.

[allanrube]

Very interested - not the same old, same old. :o Smooth ground adds a lot, trees break up the background nicely. Like how leg and head are parallel.
Thanks for explaining your procedure.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Way cool! I love everything about this image. I thought you had put a fish inside the lens hood!

[Danny Laredo]

Very creative Jan.
Love the pose.

[Krijn Trimbos]

Excellent perspective and sharpness on the head make this a fine shot Jan! The light is great as well. Very well done!

[marco peschiera]

Amazing shot and perfect idea !

[Hendri Venter]

Very well though out and very well done. The angle gives it a great perspective.