Great Blue(gill) Heron

Gallery: AvianPosted October 10, 201185 views4 comments

First off, my previous camera (D80) was destroyed when I fell in some rocks while shooting a local stream. I posted about this in the gear forum and several NPNer's gave some great advice on what to get as a replacement. So thanks to them and here is the first post with my new camera - Nikon D300s.

I was trying to shoot hawks in flight in Cape May, when this Great Blue Heron caught a nice sized Bluegill. I couldn't resist making a few images, even though I was viewing the action from an elevated position. It was also a greater distance than I would have liked, but I felt that including some of the environment somehow completed the picture.

I welcome all comments & critiques.

Nikon D300s
Lens: Nikon 300mm f/4 & TC-17E II
Mode: Aperature
ISO: 800 (set up for hawks)
Exp: 1/1600 sec at f/6.7

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 10, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Heron looks happy, I like the strut. Maybe not the best elevation but you framed the image nicely with the grasses along the bottom. Nice catch for you and the heron.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 11, 2011 at 9:33 AM

Jeff, nice action shot. It seems just a bit soft, would like to have seen the fish and/or herons eyes sharper. Still, I would love to have this in my collection. I like that you got the heron with one foot up out of the water. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 11, 2011 at 10:46 PM

Very nice view of this heron with a sunfish. I like the lifted leg. I think I would take just a bit more off the right hand side and do another round of sharpening. Congrats on the new equipment. Are you sure that D80 destroying fall was an accident?

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

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on October 11, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Ha ha. Yes, it was an accident. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I appreciate the comments. The raised leg is definitely a plus. Here's a repost with a slight crop from the right and selective sharpening (hope I didn't go too far).

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments