WC #384

Gallery: EPA 2009Posted June 8, 20091,584 views38 comments

EPA 2009 - First Place Winner - Weekly Challenge Gallery

Light on White

I do not normally take many images of birds in flight that are almost directly over my head but I made an exception in the case of this Great Egret because of how the light affected the whites of the bird and the thin cirrus clouds in the sky overhead.

D200, HH, standing, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 200, 70-300mm VR at 82mm. 50% of original image. Taken 05-15-09 at a local county park.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques, thank you for looking.

Comments

38 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 8, 2009 at 8:14 PM

Now that is bodaciously, outrageously good, Lia! Are you sure you weren't laying on your back in the pluff mud?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 8, 2009 at 8:30 PM

I love it, Lia. The pose of the bird, perfect exposure, and you even caught the eye. The direction of the bird compliments the clouds too.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Ward on June 8, 2009 at 10:58 PM

A soaring image!!! Wonderful POV.

Registered on February 26, 2009, 304 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 8, 2009 at 11:39 PM

Wonderful detail on the whites!!!
Great entry for the WC.

sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on June 9, 2009 at 12:43 AM

I love this. Fantastic lighting and detail. Great work!!

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 9, 2009 at 1:31 AM

Superb translucency in the wings, and stunning detail, Lia. Absolutely first rate.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Neale Dyster on June 9, 2009 at 3:13 AM

exquisite!

Registered on February 19, 2008, 94 Posts, 738 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Lia, this is way cool and cracking sharp! I'm curious about the dark underparts of the wings, but I really like the crop and presentation of how you framed the GE. Fine work as usual!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 10, 2009 at 12:19 AM

Geez, Lia, youre killin me with these mind-blowing bird shots! You got a book comin out soon?

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on June 10, 2009 at 5:34 PM

Wow, Lia. This is terrific.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on June 10, 2009 at 5:41 PM

Makes me feel like I'm up there with him, weightless. Terrific capture.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on June 12, 2009 at 8:50 AM

I am not a birder, but I can not imagine it gets any better than this. This rocks, Lia.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on June 12, 2009 at 9:41 AM

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on 06/09/09 at 8:00 pm EST

Lia, this is way cool and cracking sharp! I'm curious about the dark underparts of the wings, but I really like the crop and presentation of how you framed the GE. Fine work as usual!

Bill, as near as I can figure, Great Egrets must have very dark skin on the underside of their wings, I have seen the darkness before in other shots from under the bird and just figured that was the natural coloration of the skin itself, though we do not often get to see it with when the feathers are covering it.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 12, 2009 at 7:56 PM

I love the directly overhead perspective, especially with the clouds. Marvelous detail.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 13, 2009 at 9:42 PM

Fantastic image!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on June 15, 2009 at 9:17 AM

Stunning Lia. I love the detail. The large one looks like a 747 going over your head

Congrats again on the EP.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 15, 2009 at 1:52 PM

Congrats on the EP! Well deserved!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on June 16, 2009 at 9:49 AM

I like that you had "just enough" angle to show the side of his face with an eye. Congratulations on a deserving pick!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 17, 2009 at 12:32 AM

!!!!!! Close to perfection, maybe it is! Amazing, Lia! Congratulations!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 19, 2009 at 4:34 PM

I missed this previously. A very nice study in light - very "buoyant" for want of a better word.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on July 14, 2009 at 2:56 PM

Wow!!! Stunning image Lia!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on August 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM

This certainly shows the grace of one of my most favorite birds. Well deserved EP!

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 1, 2010 at 10:14 PM

This is inspiring Mia. Aslo fine artl. Congratulations on the 2009 First Place Award.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 2, 2010 at 7:09 PM

This is an exceptional image on many levels Mia. And certainly very deserving of your 2009 EPA. Big congratulations!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 2, 2010 at 7:10 PM

Congrats on the 2009 EPA. I was impressed when I saw it and I'm impressed now.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 2, 2010 at 7:54 PM

Sweet, Mia! Congrats on the EPA!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on January 2, 2010 at 10:19 PM

Superb, both in detail and angle of view! Congrats!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 3, 2010 at 12:42 AM

A very well deserved EPA pick Mia! A hearty CONGRATULATIONS!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 3, 2010 at 10:42 AM

You have so many beautiful images I am glad you have been recognized for your talent. Lovely image, well deserving of a EPA.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Rogers on January 3, 2010 at 2:35 PM

Hello Mia.

Congrats on the award.

Beautiful detail and love the sky with the fine clouds giving this a nice background.

Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostock on January 3, 2010 at 3:59 PM

Mia, congratulations on an excellent shot and well-deserved EPA. Awesome.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on January 3, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Great placement of the bird in the frame and love the translucence in the Wings. Cracker of a Shot, Mia. Congrats on the EPA 2009 pick for the First Place

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 4, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Congrats on your first place image and award Mia

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on January 4, 2010 at 3:49 PM

Well deserved winner. Congratulations Mia.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 5, 2010 at 3:59 AM

Yep- it's a 1st place EPA reward well due. Thanks, Mia, for your consistently inspirational work.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 5, 2010 at 7:05 PM

I am glad to see that you made an exception to your "usual" perspective. Even though so many of your prone-position shots are also outstanding, you can't beat the sky for a simple, artistice background. Contrats on this well-deserved EPA.