Heron Ballet

Gallery: AvianPosted March 5, 201194 views8 comments

I took this last Spring at the Viera Wetlands in Melbourne, Florida, but never posted it. I've reprocessed it several times and have never been totally happy with the outcome. This version is the most "realistic" one. In others I applied soft focus or other effects. I love the subject but am just unsure about the postprocessing. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

Canon 50D
400mm/5.6
1/1000 @f/10
ISO 500
Handheld

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 5, 2011 at 8:23 PM

Realistic is always a good way to go IMO. I don't have any issues with the processing. The interaction of the two herons is quite interesting.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 6, 2011 at 8:39 AM

Interesting action. Very nice as presented.
May

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on March 6, 2011 at 10:44 AM

Very cool and beautiful too...nice image!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 6, 2011 at 1:28 PM

I actually like how you processed it Michelle. Looks good to go for me. The interaction is over the top!

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 6, 2011 at 8:42 PM

As a habitat/behavior image, this is over the top. Fascinating interaction between the birds. Nicely done

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on March 11, 2011 at 12:30 AM

Amazing behavioral shot. I love how the nest mirrors herons' neck feathers. Brilliant!

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Michele Williams on March 11, 2011 at 3:51 PM

Thanks so much for the nice comments. I was really hoping someone would make a suggestion on the processing. To me the image has a lot of potential but I don't think I've fully achieved it. Maybe I'm just being too critical. Anyway, thanks again.
Michele

Registered on April 3, 2010, 28 Posts, 146 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Levin on March 21, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Beautiful lighting and interaction between the herons, Michele. There are some dark areas without detail on the herons and the nest that could be dealt with selectively using the adjustment brush in Camera Raw or Lightroom. This would be my only processing suggestion. From a shooting standpoint, I personally would have shot this on a tripod if feasible for maximum sharpness and optimizing composition. A lovely image aside from these nitpicks.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments