Living on the Edge

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 13, 2011235 views22 comments

A Great Blue Heron scales a strip of bedrock alongside the violent currents of Great Falls.

Canon 5dm2, Canon 200mm/2.8L, f/7.1, 1/6 sec, ISO 50.
Selective curves and vibrancy adjustments

This is a repost, with slightly different processing, to what I posted in the Avian forum a few months back. Curious for any and all comments.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on December 13, 2011 at 9:00 PM

Great shot Navin! Love the water motion, and the inclusion of the Heron makes the shot for me.

Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Ned Fenimore on December 13, 2011 at 9:06 PM

The lighting here and stop action of the water is simply superb.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 467 Posts, 2803 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on December 13, 2011 at 9:23 PM

This is great! I was just on your site admiring this one...

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on December 13, 2011 at 9:24 PM

Oh this is stupendous Navin! I love the sharp contrast in the quick fast rushing water to the rock still rock and bird. Very well seen and captured!

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 13, 2011 at 9:53 PM

Beautiful image. I am really enjoying the water, very painterly and the Heron is perfect. Sweet.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 13, 2011 at 9:55 PM

OH MY! This is incredible. I wouldn't even begin to think of a nit or suggestion. What a magnificent moment, beautifully captured. Wow.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on December 13, 2011 at 9:59 PM

Really nice sharpness and processing overall. The composition is wonderful, and you chose just the right shutter speed to show the turbulence in the water. Great stuff!

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 13, 2011 at 11:03 PM

One of your best, Navin, such a wonderful image!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on December 14, 2011 at 1:22 AM

Wow, the heron is an amazing addition Navin. Really impressive.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 14, 2011 at 1:36 AM

Fantastic scene Navin. The combo of strong contrast and sharpness of the foreground and wonderful motion in the background work well together. I like this a lot.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on December 14, 2011 at 3:33 AM

A great moment for sure, Navin! These guys have so much patience and can stand still for many minutes. The contrast between the heron and rushing waters is superb.

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on December 14, 2011 at 7:46 AM

The stillness of the Heron focusing on finding food against the turbulence of the ater is a wonderful combination and works fabulously here.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 14, 2011 at 11:08 AM

Nice capture with the sharp heron and the violent waves. I'd say your shutter speed was perfect on this one.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 14, 2011 at 11:22 AM

Lots to like about this image - the tone, action, heron, etc. Outstanding overall.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on December 14, 2011 at 11:40 AM

Wow !!

love it

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on December 14, 2011 at 11:41 AM

Hi everyone, thanks for the very kind comments. Please do note any critiscms as you find them :)

The heron was descending down the rocks, and often poking its head down towards the water and its feed, and adjusting its wings to balance. I probably took ~30 frames in burst mode of it traveling from left to right, ~5 of which were acceptably in focus. This one was the best combo of the heron's position in the frame, and the motion in the water behind it.

Hope that gives you a little context, in case you were interested :)

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on December 14, 2011 at 4:02 PM

Absolutely a killer shot! Just so much to like about this . . . simple yet so poignant.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on December 15, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Navin,
My favorite Great Falls Shot... ever...
so suggestions from me...
Perfect

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on December 15, 2011 at 10:46 PM

thanks, phil and tom :)

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on December 16, 2011 at 12:45 AM

Pretty cool, I like how the Heron stands out so well against the rapids. Was he actually trying to fish this!?