Least Bittern

Gallery: AvianPosted March 8, 2010122 views17 comments

D300, 500mm f/4, travel pillow on car window
ISO 1000, 1/1600 sec, f/4
Viera Wetlands, FL - Feb. 23, 2010
A heavily overcast morning. My goal was a photo of the bittern striking and capturing a minnow. The camera settings are for stopping the action and I did not change the settings for this non-action shot.
Sharpening and noise reduction with Noise Ninja. Cropping and other standard adjustments with CS3 and LR2.
Comments and suggestions most welcome.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Sally King on March 8, 2010 at 10:28 AM

This is a gorgeous image. I love the bird's pose hanging onto that plant stalk and leaning forward at the ready. The reflection is superb and I love the little ripples extending outward. Excellent details. Great wow factor. 10+ image.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on March 8, 2010 at 10:42 AM

David this is very nice! These birds are devils to get and you got one out in the open with very little clutter!!

Big congrats!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 8, 2010 at 12:36 PM

Good capture. I like the pose and the leg position in this shot. I also like the nice reflection of the bird. I sure see a lot of pictures from the Viera wetlands on NPN. Must be a great place for bird photography.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on March 8, 2010 at 2:45 PM

Very nice composition.
lstván

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 8, 2010 at 2:52 PM

What I'd give to see one of these. Nice pose and you got the reflection in too

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on March 8, 2010 at 2:53 PM

Robert wrote:
" I sure see a lot of pictures from the Viera wetlands on NPN. Must be a great place for bird photography."
Robert: I discovered it last year. It is a six hour drive from Pensacola, so I don't go as often as I would like. But it is becoming one of my favorite in-state destinations.
Description, from photographers perspective, here
http://www.wildlifesouth.com/Locations/Florida/VieraWetlands.html

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

Comment posted by Roy Bailey on March 8, 2010 at 3:06 PM

I like that you have given him plenty of space.A very nice environment shot good eye contact and that foot hanging in front of the stem looks realy good.

Registered on November 16, 2008, 24 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on March 8, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Very nice pose you have capture here. Well done David.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 8, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Good work to get him unobstructed, also like the reflection and circular ripples.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 8, 2010 at 3:42 PM

David,
I really love these birds and you captured him very well. I especially like the pose and the inclusion of habitat too.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 8, 2010 at 5:55 PM

Awesome capture Davis. Great detail and perch as well as nice and close

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 8, 2010 at 8:04 PM

This has a great 3D effect because of the settings you used Dave, and I love the effect! Simply put... outstanding!

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 8, 2010 at 8:53 PM

David, this looks great. It's an interesting shot to me because he is hunting and has an alert look, but the way that big old foot is draped over the reed looks very casual at the same time. nice and sharp, good details and reflection. I like it a lot.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 8, 2010 at 9:02 PM

He's a beauty David!! Excellent photo!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 8, 2010 at 10:03 PM

The big feet really are really startling, David. Beautiful shot. I especially like the reflection of both bird and branch.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 9, 2010 at 12:27 AM

Nice timing David, I don't imagine he stayed in this pose too long. Good job with the noise reduction and sharpening. The lower foot is a bit soft, but I can understand that you went wide open to reduce the background from being too focused.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 9, 2010 at 5:37 AM

Nice one David - like the anticipation suggested in the bird's pose.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments