Another Tricolored Heron

Gallery: AvianPosted July 20, 2017145 views7 comments

This was taken August 2013 the same day as last about 5 minutes earlier, but not the same bird. My self-critique is that it's too close especially on the left. Typically a bit more space at bottom might also be better, but there would be more OOF plants. So I guess this was the best I could manage using a prime lens without extension. I personally thought the "busy" surroundings worked because the unobstructed position of the bird, and the fact that it's natural habitat. It's the only frame I shot of this bird. From the boardwalk in Bayou Sauvage, full frame.

E-5 ZD300 F2.8 Wimberley I on tripod, ISO 400 1/250 f3.5 0.0EV

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on July 20, 2017 at 6:43 PM

While this is a tight crop, the color of the heron is so different than its surroundings that it stands out very well against the uniformity of the green plant shapes behind it. While I would agree with you that a little more space would be appropriate, the current composition has its merit and is just another way to look at this Tricolored Heron. This is clearly not a camouflage situation for this bird. To me, the Tricolored Heron and the American Bittern are the most striking of these water birds with respect to plumage. Nice image.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 20, 2017 at 7:40 PM

That's about the critique I would have come up with, Bill. Beautiful detail in the bird. It's so tough when 300 mm is too much lens cheeky

Content aware fill might let you add some canvas, but it's iffy with that little to start with. I guess with today's software, you could always take a few shots around it and stitch your image together.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 20, 2017 at 8:53 PM

Thanks for comments as usual. My main critiques, too close and it needed more space left. And Dennis is quite right about content aware in Photoshop. I would highly recommend checking it out, as it's a really powerful tool. For adding canvas the action fills in the blanks based on the existing frame, but it's not that smart. With careful cloning it works really well. Here's a quick and dirty example.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Nolan Rowell on July 20, 2017 at 9:42 PM

Herons and egrets can be difficult to photograph because of their long necks. I think you did a great job with this shot. I love that the shot shows the environment that the bird lives in and that you were able to get the full bird unobstructed. The one thing that I may try to do a little differently is to give a little bit more room for the bird to walk into on the left side but that's just my style. Excellent shot.

Registered on June 28, 2016, 13 Posts, 41 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 21, 2017 at 11:28 AM

Bill, I think you're right in terms of space to the left. However, the colors here are wonderful and it's an excellent view of the bird. I haven't seen tri-colored herons with so much white... should I assume this is still a juvenile? (Edit: viewing your other post now, I see that it is!)

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on July 21, 2017 at 12:34 PM

Wonderful detail in the feathers as well as color in this beautiful Tricolor Heron. That is really tough when your 300mm is too long! I still would be very pleased with this shot.

Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 22, 2017 at 4:13 PM

Really beautiful detail and soft light here Bill, I like the comp better in the repost. My only wish is that the head were turned towards us a bit, nice work! devil

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