Great Blue Heron

Gallery: AvianPosted February 1, 2014164 views12 comments

Great Blue Heron looking out over a frozen lake.
This was taken yesterday at North Park Lake about 10 miles north of Pittsburgh. The temperature finally got above freezing after multiple days below zero.

Canon 5D MK3
400 mm f 7.1 @ 1/1250
ISO 100

Comments and Critiques always welcome and appreciated.
Thanks Bill

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 1, 2014 at 5:56 PM

Pleasant winter scene with the bird looking cold and dejected. I would clone out the little bit of vegetation in the URC and maybe crop a touch off the left side

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on February 1, 2014 at 6:25 PM

Nice job, Bill. Like this a lot. You got a nice pose from the GBH and you captured it nicely. Colors look great and lots of nice detail. Must be tough on these guys in this kind of weather. And looks like there's beaver work behind him.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 1, 2014 at 7:01 PM

Excellent. Another good story-telling image, and another example of how an image doesn't have to "pop" with color to be worth shooting.

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

Comment posted by Cindy Garwood on February 1, 2014 at 7:54 PM

Love this! Its not the normal GB by the lake!

Registered on April 7, 2011, 46 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 1, 2014 at 8:44 PM

Really nice exposure...really shows the cold "exposure"! Things are beginning to thaw here...but another 4-6" of snow predicted for Monday! The rocks are nice in this setting. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 1, 2014 at 10:10 PM

cool shot, Bill. I like the comp here and the wintery setting. I agree with Luke about removing the bit of veg at top right, whether by crop or clone.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 2, 2014 at 3:05 PM

Excellent, Bill. I like the idea of keeping the heron relatively small in the frame to work the landscape, and I really like your composition.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 2, 2014 at 3:13 PM

Very nice, neat to see a heron out in this snowy environment, well composed

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 2, 2014 at 3:45 PM

Very nice. This shot says "cold" to me.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 2, 2014 at 5:13 PM

Hello Bill

What do you think happened to this guy, still around for the winter, most have gone to a warmer place. This guy doesn't look to be in bad shape, must be getting some nutrition, not too much of his own around to compete for the food if he can find open water?

I like the capture with subdued tones and a real winter look to it. The large rock just behind him is quite overpowering , with it's size and brighter colour. Maybe tone this big rock down to allow better focusing on the main subject. I guess the rock on far right is a distraction and maybe could be cropped out if it still fits within your aspect.
The head area has some obtrusive background branches cutting into your beautiful bird but without cloning you willl have
to just live with it. :)

Thanks for sharing this lonely guy !

Bill

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 2, 2014 at 9:57 PM

A very effective story-telling photo, Bill. Just wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 3, 2014 at 5:53 PM

I like the comp and winter setting that tells a story..
Makes you feel some empathy for the bird, looks very cold/harsh.
Excellent detail and natural colors, nicely done Bill

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