Morning Spotlight

Gallery: AvianPosted November 4, 2009111 views13 comments

I was at the refuge last week and wanted to shoot this nicely posed Great Blue Heron, but the lighting was poor, blocked by a low layer of clouds. The GBH originally faced to the right atop his perch and after a half hour the sun burned thru the clouds, sent some low filtered rays our way and the backlit heron turned around to face the warmth. This is full frame, would have wished for a bit more room and lightened the dark areas and darkened bright whites in PS. Thanks for viewing.

canon 40D
canon 600mm f4.L w/1.4TC
F/9.0 @ 1/200
ISO 500
auto window beanbag rest

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Beautiful, Craig. I love the lighting in this image. I agree that a touch more room would be nice, but I think you can compensate for that with the right color of matting, if you print it.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Drew Fulton on November 4, 2009 at 1:50 PM

Spectacular lighting here Craig. I love it all. Wouldn't change a thing. Sure, you could stand to have a little bit more room, particularly in front of the bird but I like it as is.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 43 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 4, 2009 at 3:51 PM

A beautiful image of a GBH. I got a similar photo of this species yesterday, though it lacks the nice lighting and colored BG of yours.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on November 4, 2009 at 4:09 PM

Craig, very nice photo with good detail. I am envious! I would like to know what metering did you use: spot, partial, evaluative?. Yesterday I was shooting a GBH and was having a hard time getting detail in the highlights. You have done a great job.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on November 4, 2009 at 4:22 PM

Thanks for all the comments.
John... I used the center "spot Metering" focusing on the eye area best as possible and holding the half depressed shutter, I then move the center while composing the shot.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM

Very nice. I like the dark background and the moodiness of the image.
May

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on November 4, 2009 at 6:25 PM

I love all of the warm tones in this image Craig. I think the lighting steals the show in this shot. I agree it may be a tad tight side to side. I think I would be tempted to maybe take a little off of the top. Maybe a 4X5 ratio. Superb image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 4, 2009 at 8:16 PM

Super texture in the feathers here Craig. I like the perch and love the background. The top of the head may be a little bright but difficult, if not impossible, to avoid in this light.

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

Comment posted by Chris Ross on November 5, 2009 at 5:29 AM

Nice shot Craig, great lighting makes this shot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 5, 2009 at 7:46 AM

Hi Craig, agreed that a bit more space would be nice, but it's a lovely shot--you did a nice job with the backlighting.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 5, 2009 at 8:27 AM

Craig,

The light is gorgeous and I love the heron's pose, I could almost sense without reading your story that the bird had turned to face the warmth.

Yes, a bit more space would be nice but in photography you don't always have to follow the rules to present an image with wonderful impact.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 5, 2009 at 6:13 PM

I like this Craig. The BG is top notch. A bit tight on the bird, maybe, but I like the comp here.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 6, 2009 at 3:18 PM

Looks good to me as presented. I love this type of light.

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