Juvenile Yellow crowned Night Heron

[Richard Unsworth]

Landed in a tree right next to me

1/800, ISO 800 , f8 Av, handheld, close. 40D 100-400 + 1.4

not seen a babbie one before (maybe a young female; mom was fishing nearby, I have shots of her too! The all dark bill distinguishes from Black Crowned, though the juvs are very alike).

I have run light NR BG only, havent tried to change anything in BG though its busy I feel the bird stands out well. Used USM to pop a bit.Was alittle above my site line but not much you can do with that (unless you have una escalata lol)

Check out the spikes in the FG tree - wouldnt want to misjudge the landing. I speak from experience having once smacked the same species with my palm producing an immediate effect of stigmata:eek:

[gail bisson]

Richard,
This little guy is so ugly he is cute! Great shot of the bird. BG is busy but I like it. How do you find the 1.4x with the 100-400mm. I really dislike it but perhaps you have a trick or two that you could share.
Gail

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi Gail

100-400 really good

with a 1.4 its a handful and should really use a tripod, but I suspect no more than any other 560 lens++. Having said that for many shots I dont.
In truth the results are mixed sometimes excellent other times poor (but that happens anyway whatever the kit?) Recently I have lost a lot of shots due to poor focus. However I checked out on focus targets and its perfect lol. so camera shake, low SS , lack contrast, poor technique are the real culprits IMO not the glass as it were.
I would be interested in your comments too Gail
I taped the pins and sometimes af is OK BUT slooowwww

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Richard, I am afraid the angle is a little too steep and the BG too cluttered and that twig right behind the bill hurts. You've exposed it well. If mine, I'd have some more room on top and a tad less at the bottom. You were just in a difficult situation here.

[arash_hazeghi]

I agree with Kaustubh the angle is too steep here and the light was tough too.

[Richard Unsworth]

reminder - pack ladder or rope