Goliath Heron

[Ken Watkins]

This was posing nicely on the shoreline , but quite far away, we were in a drifting boat so a lower POV was not possible.

Taken on Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe, 20th September 2011

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand-held from drifting boat

F7.1, ISO 400, 1/2500

[Doug Brown]

I like the warm colors, the raised head feathers, and the good sharpness. Not crazy about the bird at the bottom of the frame or the OOF tree under the bird's bill.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice looking heron...I take it from its' name that it must be a rather large species. Nice vertical comp. Looks to me that a lower POV would have introduced some FG elements into the frame...I think it is fine as is. Like Doug I am not crazy about the extra bird...perhaps if it had been clear of the rock and with a good HA then it could have been a neat bonus.

[Rene Quenneville]

Beautiful bird, nice light in the eye. I find the overall comp a little busy. Maybe a lower camera position would have helped to put the head higher in the sky.

[Arthur Morris]

First I would shoot the stilt (or throw a Quick Mask over it). Then I would crop from the left from just inside the animal hole. Love the soft light and rich colors and the windblown crest. These are big boys!

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks everbody for your comments and suggestions, thanks to Art for identifying the "errant" stilt, and I like the crop suggestion as well.

This is the worlds largest Heron, height 120-152 cm ( 47-60 in) wingspan 185-230 cm ( 73-91 in).

They are wonderful to see and the Kariba shoreline in Matusadona has given us some remarkable sightings, other than this area I have seen very few.

[Ken Watkins]

Sorry everybody just realised my OP was the wrong one, I have now found the one I meant to post and cropped and cloned as suggested