Breeding Cattle Egret

Gallery: AvianPosted April 22, 2016146 views7 comments

I rarely if ever bother shooting them in fields most times of the year, but they are a treat during breeding season. There is a healthy population around the Jefferson Island rookery in the spring. I shot this image a couple of days ago while perched on a Tallow tree. This is full frame and admittedly a bit left-heavy on the comp, but I liked the environment. Comments and crop suggestions appreciated.

7D2 400 f4 +2X Wimberley I on GT2531, ISO 400 1/200 f8 0.0EV

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Bill Kellermeyer on April 22, 2016 at 12:51 PM

Very nice image. They are a very simple but beautiful bird. I like the composition and BG.

Registered on March 19, 2013, 52 Posts, 161 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 22, 2016 at 1:05 PM

Hi Bill:

A very nice Cattle Egret. They are very nice in breeding plumage. I like the perch background pose. You mentioned you thought the comp was a bit left heavy. Yes, but of even more concern for me is that puts the bird dead center left to right which feels awkward to me. I took a quick crack at a crop and adding just a bit of canvas on the right to get the bird in a more dynamic position. See what you think.

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on April 22, 2016 at 4:38 PM

Outstanding image. Full breeding plumage and a nice head turn. The egret really pops off that background giving the image a very 3D feel.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Pollard on April 22, 2016 at 7:45 PM

Love this shot and the composition and depth and color!

Registered on April 20, 2015, 20 Posts, 37 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 22, 2016 at 10:09 PM

Beautiful, Bill. Superb detail in the bird and I like the comp as-is. the foliage on the left pulls the composition in that direction and prevents the bird from seeming too centered. If you really wanted to, you could play with a 4x5 aspect ration and see if you can find something that pleases you more, but this will be hard to beat.

devil

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 23, 2016 at 2:58 PM

Bil, my first thought was the same as Keith's and really like the reposted comp better. That was my only little nit. I like everything else about it. Nicely done!

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on April 23, 2016 at 8:26 PM

Bill: the bird in breeding plumage is beautiful and really pops against the dark green background. Don't know how much room you have , but a portrait orientation crop should work nicely as the bird is pretty much centered now. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments