Green Heron

Nice stare and touches of environment here Richard. I'd be tempted to remove some of the golden color, but that's a personal preference. Nice one!

I like the setting here Richard, and agree with David about the golden tones (strictly a person taste thing for me).

Rich,
Love the intent look. 78% of full frame shows me this bird is very tolerant. I know you want honest critiques so I would say to tone down the reds, see what it looks like and maybe the yellows if it still needs it. Regardless of the color hew you had some seriously good light. Neat image.

This is fantastic, I am also convinced I have photographed this exact heron here myself. First pond on the right just past the gate? Anyways, great detail and love the catchlight in the eye.

I've done my best to keep this image accurate to the light I had and to the raw file. I agree it is very intense but that's what I liked about the image. I've done a screen shot of a folder of Green Heron raw files that includes the sequence this image was taken from (#627) to show how the unprocessed raw files look.

First pond on the right just past the gate?

- Peter

The image was made at pond 6. If you park on the south side of the library, follow the paved walk SE and turn right along the gravel path through the first gate, then pond 6 will be on your right. Walk across the tiny concrete footbridge (about two feet long) and find the opening in the hedge that slopes a bit towards the water. You get morning light about an hour after sunrise on the opposite (west) side of pond 6, and in late afternoon get the light form the setting sun on the east bank (where this was taken).

Rich, I know you always strive to process your images so they represent what you saw in the field. Given your post of the RAW images I'd say you did well. I like first light golden look images, see my most recent owl post, so this works very well for me. As always the bird is sharp with great detail. Very nice overall.

Very enticing morning light and that mohawk look takes the image up a notch.

great detail and a nice setting, Rich. I like the warm tones. the flared crest is a nice touch also.

Neat shot - the bird looks great and I like the reflections, light and colors. My philosophy is the same as yours in that I rarely manipulate the light/colors into something they were not at the scene.

Such an intimate look at one of these wonderful little herons. In the larger version you can see the beauty of the golden light and wonderful detail.

Richard, you really caught this one in some nice light. I like the classic pose along w/ the ruffled feathers. Nice work!

Then I know I have photographed this same bird many times. It seems to be a popular spot among photographers, probably because it's so close to the water. I'll have to get one of mine up of this bird.

I remember that spot and how the late afternoon light can really add to the image. Good to see something different and I like the pose of the heron. It is really amazing how the light can affect an image. I remember a hummer image Brian G posted with strong light like this and it really makes a unique and different image which I really like. Well done Rich.

Nice morning/evening glow. Nice low angle and the larer version shows the great detail as well.

Excellent capture Richard. I like it as posted wouldn't change a thing.
May

Hi Rich - I'd suggest that just because the RAW file looks like this doesn't mean your image has to look like this. It also doesn't mean that your eye actually saw it like this. I'm absolutely fine with you leaving it like this (not that I have a say anyway ), but less golden would not necessarily be less accurate in my opinion.

I'd suggest that just because the RAW file looks like this doesn't mean your image has to look like this. It also doesn't mean that your eye actually saw it like this. I'm absolutely fine with you leaving it like this (not that I have a say anyway ), but less golden would not necessarily be less accurate in my opinion.

- David Bostedo

My goal with my bird photography has always been staying true to the subject and scene. That's why I don't do set ups, I don't call in a bird with playback of a recording, I don't groom an area I'm working, I don't clone out branches or parts of other birds in the frame, etc. I've always stated that for me nature photos should be natural.

I get out at sunrise, or begin shooting close to sunset (as in this image) because of the quality of the light at those times of day. I also take advantage of the way the vegetation around the place that I shoot reflects the light and adds warmth to the image.

When I took this image I was keenly aware of the golden glow present as it was so much more intense than I expected or had experienced at this pond.

Of course I could shift the color balance and desaturate the image to take out some of the golden glow, but what would be the point of that when it was what I saw and what the camera recorded and one of the main reasons I was shooting late in the day in the first place?

I talk about the effects of the color of light in this post on my blog, showing two shots of a Northern Mockingbird taken 2 hours apart.

I like this comp with reflections, good POV.
Attractive late afternoon light and warm color also.
Great sharpness and environment, well done Rich.

The light and detail are great on this one. I also like the mohawk look. A very nice shot.

Rich-as always with your posts you strive to reproduced an image as found, it's obvious that's the case here. I see this as an image well captured and presented.

Love the glowing light and the habitat.

Ray

Hi, Richard. Thanks for commenting/ critiquing my pictures. This is my kind of picture - I really like how morning sun gives everything a warm orange cast (I guess my personal taste). Anyway, I love the pose of the heron and it's sharpness - it seems to pop off the screen. Mark