Beautiful Heron

Very good colors, exposure, and a great natural habitat Sandy.
Only suggestions I have would be to compose with more room up top & in front, with a bit less behind.

Agree with Howard that the colors feel natural and a nice exposure on the Heron. At this size, the heron doesn't look quite sharp. You have the option of posting a 1200px wide / tall image as well as the 720px image. This helps evaluate details that are difficult to tell from smaller images.

Nice shot. I agree with Howard's assessment but would add to it a slightly lower camera angle.

Thanks Howard - those are the kind of things I need to get in my head. I know that shots should give the subject room in front and top would have been nice also. What happens with me, is that I get so carried away with the beauty of the subject and I am so anxious to show that subject off, that I have a (bad) tendency to overlook basic compositional rules. I'll get better!

Thanks Keith, I guess I must be missing full understanding of the postings. Based on suggestion, I started using the larger photo option, and let the software do its thing, but it balked at this one. I guess what I am saying is that I'm not sure I know how to specifically manipulate the pixel count of a shot - I edit it, and go with it. I guess I need to check out the instructions of iPhoto and PSE11, the two programs that I use and learn how to do that. I certainly want to post my work in the best possible way.

Robert, now that you point that out, I can see how a lower angle would have been a better shot. I'm still at the point, having had my DSLR for just 5 months, that I tend to get excited to shoot when I encounter these creatures. You have to understand, I am a guy who flew high performance jet aircraft, have jumped out of airplanes 657 times, and ride fast motorcycle and bicycles (broke a state record just today on one at the FL state championships), but these creatures excite the hell out of me, and then I shoot appropriately (or inappropriately!).

Hi, Sandy,

I'm sure you didn't fly " high performance jet aircraft, have jumped out of airplanes 657 times, and ride fast motorcycle and bicycles" without paying attention to details and discipline. This (nature photography) is a lot like that, only slower. Here is a tutorial from Adobe for saving to web in PSE: http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/getting-started/save-web-friendly-format.html

So true Phil, but with one major difference. If I screw up my nature photography, it won't kill me or anyone else - that's more than I can say about the other pursuits! Thanks for the URL, I will check it out soon - I've saved it on my desk top.

Nice shot of the heron, Sandy. The virtual legs look a bit chopped off and the top seems a little crowded. I'm guessing you started from a horizontal image on this. Tall waders like this often call for a portrait aspect to get them all into the frame.

Thanks Dennis, I have so many full shots of Great Blue Herons, that I actually liked this particular setup. I was trying to concentrate on the fact that his face was so nicely lighted and his amazing, breeding plumage in this particular shot. Have tons of shots of those full length, full legged guys!