Heron

[Blake Cook]

Heron - Middle Arm of the Fraser River near the Seaplane Base, 1DIV, 300 f/2.8IS +1.4TC, ISO400, +1/3EV, f/4.0, 1/2500, I vacillated between this and B&W on this one. The camera settings are a bit odd as I was shooting something else when this heron appeared. I'm not sure if this type of photo is appropriate here, being more landscape than bird. C&C Welcomed.

[Alfredo Fernández]

I like the reflection on the water, but that green spot in the left is too distracting.
Also is better if the bird is flying towards you rather that going away from you. Eye contact is also important.
hope that helps.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Blake, I will reinforce Alfredo's point about subjects flying away/towards the camera. In this, well done for capturing the reflection as the heron flies low across the water, but as there is no eye contact, and the subject is also small in the frame, , there is nothing to draw the viewer to the image. I wouldnt move it to landscape, but hopefully you will have another opportunity to capture a better in flight shot.

[Daniel Cadieux]

It sure does belong in Avian! Although I'd much prefer to have it flying towards us I have to say that I rather have the bird flying away lots like here than just a bit angled away...so in that sense it works sorta OK for me (but I have to repeat I'd still much prefer it flying towards us). The crop is not helping, I'd take away about half the empty space at bottom - you'd have the "small in the frame" subject and reflection neatly closer to the bottom right corner and this would strenghten the comp by also gettnig rid of excess space at bottom.

Hope you get more opportunities with this species, once in a while you get a very cooperative one, especially in city parks.

[Blake Cook]

Thanks all for you suggestions. I agree, eye contact would be preferred, but these birds are so easy to approach when feeding that I rarely if ever see one that isn't flying away like this shot. I like Daniel's suggestion to crop a portion off the bottom which might also satisfy Alfredo's distraction concern to some extent. I live on the middle arm of the Fraser River backing onto the Terra Nova sanctuary/park and run into herons on a daily basis. My new to me 600mm has opened my eyes to birds, which I only photographed when I happened across them in the past. I can see that I'm going to wear some different clothing if I hope to shoot at eye level. Plus I felt a bit foolish in my reflective red jacket shooting owls in the marsh the other day, among 30 or so photographers, mostly in camouflage gear. A few wore bemused but friendly faces at my attire. I suppose they were just pleased I didn't drive my SUV into the marsh.

[Daniel Cadieux]

You're welcome Blake, I see that you have many opportunities with these and I can understand trying for something different as I'm sure you have lots of images of herons already. On your repost you now have the subject to tight within the frame and looking a bit cramped for space. Here is what I was envisioning...and not sure what your personal ethics are in regrads to cloning but I also did a quick and dirty distraction removal (you could also remove the post reflection touching the heron's wing).

P.S. Camouflage is many times overkill as the birds can see you anyhow when standing in a field or by the side of a river bank...simple subdued or neutral colours have worked well for me, and even my black winter coat.

[Blake Cook]

I like your edit Daniel.

As for lots of shots of these birds I have very few. I've paid little attention to birds except where they cross my path while shooting aircraft. Let me tell you, shooting an F18 in a low pass is duck soup compared to a snipe in flight. I have yet to get one of those little critters fully in the frame let alone in focus. I bought a 600mmf/4 a few weeks ago and that has opened a whole new world to my interests. That and 30 or so, Snowy Owls nearby,