Great Blue Heron in Swamp

[allanrube]

I took this image last week at Plum Island. I had packed up to leave when I saw the heron on the piece of wood. He was nice enough to stay there until I could unpack, setup, and shoot. Unfortunately, when he flew, it was not in my direction.

D300s with 600 VR. 1/400 f/6.3 at iso 320

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Allan, using a 600mm, and having the heron smallish in the frame, he must have been pretty far. I do like the overall setting though, together with the surrounding grasses. The open bill does add interest.

[allanrube]

I think herons and egrets allow human closeness very differently in different locations. This heron was not far by New England standards, but having shot in Florida I know you can get within a few feet of them there.

Nothing special. I just liked the open mouth and the wood within the swamp.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice shot, showing the habitat. The perch and the open beak adds interst.

[Bill Dix]

I like it. Sometimes it's good to take a step back and show more than just the bird. Open bill is great, as is the habitat. Eye looks a little bright.

[Arthur Morris]

Killer squawk and image design. I think that the faint s-creek adds nicely to a wonderful habitat image.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose and nice display of enviroment, I wish you had posted 1024 pixels so we could see the details.

[Mital Patel]

Allan i would request you to please post 1024 wide image to enjoy this beautiful shot.
I loved it very much with that open bill and just a big dead trunk on the grassland adding really some values to it.

[allanrube]

As requested.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

now we are talking Alan. small size just does not do justice. I love such shots. bill open, perfect HA, nice habitat...lots of character in the perch, soft light. well done.

did you get a chance to try some wide-open? it might be a good situation to display the "unique 600 f/4 combination" to isolate a subject that is so far away. I mean I like the isolation here...BG is nicely blurred. not familiar with the focal length...so not sure if DOF at f/4 wud have been sufficient to cover the log.

out here there are spots where a GBH flies away even if u are within 50 yards....and those are usually the spots where the habitat is nice like in this picture. and then there are spots where they hang out next to people fishing waiting for hand outs. those are good spots for head shots.

[Arthur Morris]

Moi bien. Yo asi. Great log and tongue!