Tricolored w/repost

Wow Mia, this is just wonderful. Here you go again taking a common species and making it very special. I love everything about this image, but it would not be at all the same without the very low angle. I like the water, the bird's pose, the BG, the light, and the overall colors. Of course the sharpness and detail are also perfect. Top-notch, it just does not get any better IMO.

Wow, I love their blue bill. The head-turn here is great too, as well as the extended foot .

What a wonderfully intimate image. I love the body and head position and the way your point of view brings the viewer into the image.

Mia, lots going on in the frame in terms of the habitat, but the bird in prime breeding plumage takes center stage. Fine timing and really cool pose. Your framing and comp work really well with the bird placed off to the left and looking back into the frame. Nice work capturing my favorite long-legged wader.

Wonderful light, unique pose, beautiful subject equals fantastic image. Ron

Love it, Mia. Looks like an Audubon painting. Excellent.

This is great, Mia. I really can sense the movement of the bird through the frame. The soft light and setting also make this a wonderful scene.

Gorgeous image, Mia. The pose is exquisite and I like the level of detail in the bg a lot. I don't know were you trimmed this one, but to my eye a bit more room on the left would make this even better.

I like the hesitant foot pose combined with the head turn, Mia. It's indisputably a beautiful image as posted. However, I do note that the white underpart of the bird in shadow does tend to blend into the background. I wonder if increasing the exposure on the background a bit would help.

This is one of my favorite Florida photos I've seen of yours Mia. The colors really pop on this which is of course contrary to your style of muted tones. The head turn and the delicate foot are what put this over the top.

As for Ron's comment about it being a "common" species. . . it must be nice to live in Florida is all I've got to say!

- Luke

This is intimidatingly good. I can't imagine being able to improve on it. For me the one thing that makes it work so well, and nobody has mentioned yet, is that you caught that pose with the pale blue of the bill silhouetted against the gray of the birds back. In any other position the pale blue wouldn't have had that pop.

Mia, great photo with the pose and sharpness which I can't seem to get with this lens. Great job.

One of my favorites of your images Mia, a great intimate look at this bird.

I like this one a lot and think it's one of your best this year! Pose, bg and sharpness are spectacular. I'm sure you miss your little lagoon! Sharon

On of my favorite wading birds and this pose is super cool. I love that lifted leg and look to the back. Awesome. BTW did you used to work at the Progress Energy art gallery?

Near perfect Mia, especially like the unique crouched pose and intense glare behind. Like I said...perfect.

My thanks for the comments thus far on this image.

Dennis, I did have a difficult time picking a comp here because the bird is facing the right side of the frame while it was moving towards the left. I've posted my second choice for a comp with this image, but I prefer the comp of the original post.

Steve, I tried adjusting the background, then the bird to have the creamy white of the belly separate from the background more, unfortuantely when I make those adustments the line between bird and background begins to look artifical even with slight modifications. So I left it as it was taken since I prefer my images as close to natural as possible even if that makes them slightly less appealing. But I sincerely appreciate your comment and the time you took to make it.

Stunning...I love your work!

Wow, this is spectacular Mia! As you mentioned, it almost looks like the heron is posed in front of a painting! I get a real sense of depth in this image ... really well done!

While trolling your gallery I came upon this image. Guess I missed it when you posted. What a nice mid-winter surprise for me. Lovely. As you photography always is. Thank you for sharing.

Mia, this is an unusual and beautiful bird. I really like the low angle of the composition. It seems as if you are lying in the water. The OOF grass lends a nice touch. Thanks for the post. Dottie