GBH up close

Gallery: AvianPosted February 13, 2012124 views12 comments

I got this shot while touring through the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge last week. It still amazes me that the same birds that will not let you come within 25 yards up north here will let you get within a few yards of them there.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

D7000, 300mm f/2.8 w/ 2.0 TC, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 800

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on February 13, 2012 at 7:04 PM

Walt,
Nice setting with the black background. Makes the bird really stand out. Good feather detail on the larger image. I like the feather reflection along the bottom of the image. A slight head turn towards you would have made this perfect. Really nice image Walt.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Hi Walt,
I like the feather detail and the dark bg which sets off the bird nicely but I would like some more room, particularly on the bottom if you have it.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on February 13, 2012 at 8:31 PM

Walt, I really like the spotlight effect with the dark background. As mentioned a little more room would have been nice but still a very nice image.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 13, 2012 at 8:43 PM

Very nice detail. I like the bit of reflection at the bottom. The picture brings up an interesting conundrum for bird photography. When imaging a very large bird you must make a choice between "showing off" the quality of the image detail by cropping closely or showing the entire bird. It's a tough choice. I think the quality of the reflection allows the close crop here.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 13, 2012 at 8:49 PM

Walt, this is super! love the black bg and great light on the bird. great details. Angela does a good job summarizing the dilemma with shots like this. Generally I'm a stickler for wanting room for the legs, but I like this as posted.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 13, 2012 at 9:07 PM

Excellent exposure and detail in the Heron, Walt. I do wish you'd had a bit less lens or more distance as I miss the virtual legs and it looks like you had a killer reflection.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on February 14, 2012 at 6:34 AM

Beautiful, Walt, especially against the dark bg. I wish I could see with the reflection, but don't that that would make or break the composition. I, too, have these here in Seoul, Korea, where I am living and working...yeah, tough to get close to! Anyway, splendid shot!

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on February 14, 2012 at 1:39 PM

Beautiful, stunning image!!!

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 14, 2012 at 1:44 PM

A simply beautiful close-up portrait Walt. Awesome feather details!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 14, 2012 at 2:06 PM

Hello Walt

Enjoy the Closeness while you can. Great Detail in Feathers. A little Bright at the Cheek & Top of Head. SO, difficult to expose for those Dark blue Feathers & bright whites.
I agree with Dennis, You appear to have a Killer Reflection here! And Angela has expressed the Conundrum with Closeness versus More-is-Best Image. Would really have enjoyed seeing the Reflection in its Entirety. Anyway. Great Image as it is.

Thanks for Sharing.

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on May 12, 2012 at 3:29 PM

Beautiful bird and I like the black BG. It's a little tight in the frame for me. Leave some room for the 'virtual' legs.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 26, 2012 at 8:21 AM

This one is cropped too close for me at the bottom.

Legs cut off are distracting unless for a reason

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments