Green Heron Chicks

Gallery: AvianPosted July 15, 2010478 views19 comments

Not my normal clean background image but just couldn't pass on these two.
From my chevy truck with bean bag. Early morning & cloudy.
I wanted to add a little more info on this image. The light was very low. I knew to get both birds sharp it would require stopping down at least one full stop. I had to settle for a 1/2 stop as I was already down to 1/20th shutter speed. I took about 40 images over a 5 minute period. Only two of the images had the bills in perfect alignment with only one sharp. At 850mm I really didn't expect to get any sharp images, thank you VR.

Date/Time: MAY 9 @ 06:36 AM
Model: NIKON D200
Flash: NEVER
Focal Length: 850 mm (NIKON 500MM F/4G VRII + NIKON TC17EII)
Exposure Time: 1/20 sec
Aperture: f/8 STOPPED DOWN 1/2 STOP
ISO Equivalent: 280
Exposure Bias: -1/3
White Balance: MANUAL DIRECT SUNLIGHT
Metering Mode: MATRIX
RAW
Exposure Program: APERTURE PRIORITY

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 15, 2010 at 10:24 PM

I am quickly becoming a big fan of your work - you have a very distinct style (which is difficult in these digital days where everyone has a camera) and this is no different. Tack sharp with that wonderful subdued Louisiana light

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

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on July 15, 2010 at 10:59 PM

Background doesn't bother me a bit. This is terrific! Two sharp birds, and a neat perch. Also a good comp.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 15, 2010 at 11:05 PM

This is a great time of year as the young birds start to venture out like this. Nice seeing the two together, fine habitat with your standard excellent exposure, sharpness and attention to detail.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on July 15, 2010 at 11:15 PM

A beautiful job of a very rare shot of these two juveniles. I like the pair and the BG... Well done!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 15, 2010 at 11:55 PM

Great photo. I really dig the hair plugs on the birds. Must have been great to see them together like this.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on July 16, 2010 at 12:20 AM

no nits, Ronnie, great capture of two chicks together, I like the complimentary poses of the chicks

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on July 16, 2010 at 2:39 AM

Great job, Ronnie! Very nice image of the birds with super sharpness and detail

Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 16, 2010 at 3:49 AM

Well done getting both birds so sharp, and I like the hint of habitat in the setting.

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on July 16, 2010 at 4:51 AM

Nice job getting this two-fer, BB. These little guys really do like to stay in the thick stuff. That soft, warm light brought out the subtle colors here.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on July 16, 2010 at 4:56 AM

The background really goes with these two youngsters trying to stay out of harms way! Wonderful capture!!!!!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 16, 2010 at 5:17 AM

Super Nice

Excellent work here Ronnie!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 16, 2010 at 5:43 AM

Just beautiful Ronnie - has a 3D quality about it

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 16, 2010 at 8:08 AM

Great photo. I really like the pose. Sharpness is outstanding considering your shooting conditions. Thanks for posting.

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

Comment posted by Alex Retzloff on July 16, 2010 at 9:29 AM

A great image! I love the warm color and the natural, photogenic pose. Well done!

Registered on July 19, 2008, 22 Posts, 130 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 16, 2010 at 10:54 AM

Ronnie, I think you negotiated the BG very, very well considering the location and all the branches normally found aroud heron nests! I have always been fine with habitat shots and wish more people would post them. really like the loko you are getting frmo them.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 16, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Awesome shot. Bill alignment is great and the sharpness really shows up in the jumble of white feathers emerging from the top of the head.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on July 16, 2010 at 6:31 PM

Wonderful capture. Ronnie. So nice that you caught both chicks looking the same direction. Their fuzzy heads are well detailed.
May

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 17, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Beautiful image Ronnie, I love how cute the heron chicks look with the spikey feathers on the tops of their heads.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM

Another excellent image with wonderful soft light.

I've used the same technique of taking lots of images at very low shutter speeds hoping to get one sharp enough to use.

I have no issues with the background here, nor with anything else in the image.

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