GB Heron with Snake Pt 2

Gallery: AvianPosted March 21, 2012647 views19 comments

Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias

Brown Water Snake
Nerodia taxispilota

This is a follow up to my previous post of a Great Blue Heron with a snake from Ding Darling. The way the snake is curved coming from the Heron's bill really appealed to me. Something a little different.

Please view larger post for detail.

1D Mk IV, 500mm f4L IS, 1.4 tc
ISO 400, 1/1250, f8, exp.comp. -1/3

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 21, 2012 at 7:23 PM

Killer light on this excellent action image! Tack-sharp bird and snake, and perfect angle/profile to get that snake going down. How much more of the snake is there?? yikes - looks like a fair amount already in the throat.
Too bad the feet are not visible, but great shot notheless.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 21, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Wooo now thats a mouth ful. Nice light , good and sharp. Perhaps needs a tiny cw rotation

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 21, 2012 at 10:06 PM

Fantastic catch and nice follow up to the initial image. Great job of hanging in there for the whole event. I like the crop at the bottom. Maybe a little more for the top.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 21, 2012 at 11:31 PM

Enjoy this one also! Thanks for following up and for sharing. Fine photo must have been a great experience.

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

Comment posted by David Bostedo on March 22, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Perfect.

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 22, 2012 at 2:19 AM

This is quite a stunning shot. While still I can almost feel the snake and the Heron moving. Love the way you have captured the expansion of his neck.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 22, 2012 at 2:26 AM

Great catch!!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on March 22, 2012 at 8:46 AM

Matt, both of these images are great. This one looks like the GBH has a tongue problem. Great work on both.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Claus Johansson on March 22, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Only criticism I can think of is the missing feet, but still a Super action photo

Registered on March 28, 2010, 18 Posts, 48 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 22, 2012 at 8:58 AM

these are both spectacular shots, Matt. love the curves of the snake and the breast plumes on the heron. great timing--excellent work.

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

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on March 22, 2012 at 10:19 AM

Hey Matt,
another excellent image but I prefer seeing the whole snake in your 1st post.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on March 22, 2012 at 1:38 PM

Fantastic.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 22, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Sweet shot Matt. Really love the snake in this one. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 23, 2012 at 11:01 AM

LOVE the action in this one Matt! No nits from me Matt, you really nailed this shot!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 23, 2012 at 3:43 PM

What a very interesting and amazing encounter, wonderful series Matt, the larger image looks great, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 24, 2012 at 10:08 AM

Wonderful image....the snake's position is wonderful....makes me wonder what that head is doing to the heron's throat in there

Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 25, 2012 at 5:57 PM

Wow, what a great image Matt. The comp looks perfect to me and the snake writhing down the heron's throat puts this over the top, congrats on this series.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 29, 2012 at 12:06 PM

Congrats on the WP!
Quite an accomplishment in the tough Avian gallery!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 29, 2012 at 6:27 PM

Congratulations on the EP, Matt. Great capture and sweet light.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments