All Puffed Up

[Don Lacy]

This little Puffer fish was able to outlast this Great Egrets attempt to eat him and was let go after a few minutes but nature can be a cruel mistress and a second Egret picked him up and was able to swallow him.

1DMK3, 500 f/4 + 1.4TC, 1/1250 at f/7.1, Aperture Metered, Evaluative Metered + 2/3, Raw, Tripod, about 50% crop

[Stu Bowie]

Don, interesting catch, and although this egret didnt manage a meal, I hope your other egret will be ok. I believe these puffer fish are very poisonous. I witnessed a gull pick one up from the beach, and although I didnt see the end result, I was informed its not good news for the gull. Excellent exposure on the whites, and overall, nice and sharp. I do like how the puffer fish is looking at you asking for help.

[Melissa Groo]

What a cool shot, Don. Really like the unusual catch and the view of it, and the fine detail you have captured.

[arash_hazeghi]

Awesome pose and perfect light, excellent exposure and details...not to mention the puffer fish...can't ask for more

[Daniel Cadieux]

Excellent! I love how the puffer fish is angled perfectly directly at the viewer...lots of character added to the image this way. Lovely whites, and good etails throughout. Funny story too....

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Don! I like the details, sharpness and the Puffer. I remember fishing off the coast in Clearwater and we caught a Puffer. There were pelicans around the boat and when we threw the Puffer in the water they lunged at it but when they realized it was a Puffer they couldn't back up fast enough. Maybe Egrets have some kind of immunity.

[Troy Lim]

Great exposure control :) Great moment.

[Don Lacy]

There were pelicans around the boat and when we threw the Puffer in the water they lunged at it but when they realized it was a Puffer they couldn't back up fast enough. Maybe Egrets have some kind of immunity.

Or maybe not as intelligent

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Fantastic image, Don. Everything has come together so nicely here - the puffer looking aghast right at us, the perfect comp, exposure and details.
Love it!

[Ofer Levy]

Great image in all counts! Beautiful light, colours, sharpness and detail. The behaviour captured puts it over the top! The one thing I am not sure about is the inclusion of so much of the egret's body in the frame. Here is another option for a crop which I think is helping to emphasize the story.

[Don Lacy]

Ofer, Thanks for your repost something to consider

[Grace Scalzo]

A well told story, Don. Nice suggestion by Ofer.