Frosty Blue

Gallery: AvianPosted February 2, 2013807 views22 comments

This Great Blue Heron was at Farmington Bay WMA on my recent trip to Utah. The hoar frost in the mornings was beautiful, and the birds were looking cold. I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

f/8, 1/1000, ISO 400

crop to 88% of original (15.9 of 18MP)

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, monopod

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on February 2, 2013 at 9:53 PM

I did expect to see a GBH knee deep in snow -- very nice presentation and great job of handling all that light

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 2, 2013 at 9:55 PM

This image really gives off that COLLLDDD feeling. Very well executed

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 2, 2013 at 9:56 PM

Love it Brian! Once of my favorite birds to photograph in the winter snow...the colors just really pop and go well with the cold since they are all cold colors. Really nice comp and as usual good techs.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 2, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Definitely has it's cloak pulled about itself in that weather, Brian. I love the pulled-in pose. Excellent job on the exposure.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 2, 2013 at 10:48 PM

I love it.

I tried something like this a long time ago at Bosque del Apache when I was still shooting film. I wish it looked this good.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on February 2, 2013 at 11:13 PM

I'm cold just looking at him. Very nicely executed all around.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 3, 2013 at 5:40 AM

Great light! This is a wonderful winter portrait, love the frosty habitat. The large version is a pleasure to explore.

Sweet One Brian!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by John Neukirch on February 3, 2013 at 7:42 AM

A gorgeous image . This GBH has alot of character and by the facial expression I can't help but think he's saying to himself I should be a Arizona snowbird!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 3, 2013 at 8:00 AM

I love it Brian! This shows so well what the Great Blue Herons survive here in the winters of Utah!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 3, 2013 at 9:25 AM

Super image, Brian. The larger version is wonderful and I really like the frosty look of the neck plumes and feathers. The included snow covered grasses really add to this. Very well captured! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 3, 2013 at 10:14 AM

A very different view of a Great Blue. I like the curved frosted reeds going over the head. They really seem to hold the composition together for me. Cool image (no pun intended

)

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 3, 2013 at 11:08 AM

Great image. I really like this. One doesn't see herons in snow. Cool shot.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 3, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Must've made a wrong turn somewhere. They don't usually go north in winter, do they?
Reminds me of a guy at a bus stop holding his overcoat tight to his body. Good one, Brian.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 3, 2013 at 3:44 PM

Lot going for this image Brian. It obviously tell a "cold and Chilling" story of what GBH's must endure at times in the northern states. Wonderful pose, detail and habitat. Congrats!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 3, 2013 at 4:02 PM

Excellent - I especially like the pose and wintery setting.

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

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on February 3, 2013 at 5:55 PM

So gorgeous Brian. I love all the feather detail that can be seen in the heron and the snowy background adds so much to the image.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 4, 2013 at 5:16 AM

Great setting Brian - love the snow and frost

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 4, 2013 at 11:12 PM

Incredible light, textures and colours here, Brian! I guess I wish for a little more spacial separation from the beak and the background stalks of grass, and it's disappointing to have his leg line up with that foreground vertical grass as well, but the great scene, frosty grasses, and perfect techs and comp more than make up for it. Sometimes I think we fall into the trap of overanalyzing images and try and "fix" all these great natural scenes and moments! And all my above comments are guilty of just that...nitpicking and not seeing the forest for the trees. This is, simply, a beautiful capture of a beautiful moment.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 6, 2013 at 8:24 AM

Very nice, love the frosty setting,

Ray

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 6, 2013 at 11:46 AM

A wonderful image, Brian - both setting and heron are top-notch, including their exposure. Love the hoar-frost on the phrags and your comp works well for me. Sure enjoyed your visit!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on January 15, 2014 at 3:18 PM

Hello Brian

Nice Capture and well handled whites!

Bill

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 1, 2014 at 12:01 PM

Outstanding image Brian, this is a must view large.
I can't anything more, just wish it was mine

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments